Guinea Attempts to Revive National Airline, Amid Competing Claims
Guinea has signed a memorandum of understanding with Abu Dhabi-based Gewan Holding to relaunch its long-defunct national airline, Air Guinée, over 20 years after its liquidation. The agreement, announced in July, indicates renewed ambition to improve regional connectivity in West Africa. Gewan, whose aviation arm recently secured an Air Operator’s Certificate, is backing this third attempt at reviving the carrier following two unsuccessful ventures in recent years.
The announcement has sparked controversy, however, with U.S.-based consultancy FlyWestaf LLC claiming it had already been mandated to launch a similar airline initiative, FlyGuinea, with operations reportedly planned for 2026. The dispute highlights ongoing complexities in Guinea’s aviation sector, amid wider regional efforts—including infrastructure modernisation and public-private partnerships—to overcome market fragmentation and stimulate growth across West Africa’s underdeveloped air transport networks.
Source: travelnews.africa