Benin grants operating licence to Amazone Airlines
Benin’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) has granted an operating licence to Amazone Airlines following a regulatory review concluded on 13 February 2026, clearing the way for commercial operations. The move advances government plans to strengthen air connectivity and tourism, with potential to increase traffic through Cotonou’s Bernardin Gantin International Airport, which is being expanded to triple passenger capacity as Benin targets more than 2 million foreign visitors a year.
ANAC said approval followed verification of operating procedures, crew and technical qualifications, and a compliant safety management system. Details on ownership, initial fleet and launch timing have not been disclosed. The project follows earlier efforts to establish a national carrier and 2025 discussions on possible Benin–Qatar links with cooperation from Qatar Airways. Amazone will enter a competitive market already served by major international and regional airlines, amid sector headwinds typical in Africa – high operating costs, significant taxes and fuel prices, and relatively low load factors (73.4% in Africa in December 2025 versus 83.7% globally).
Source: Ecofin Agency