AirFrance, the French national airline, has halted its operations to Sierra Leone, citing low traffic volume as the primary reason for the suspension. The customer base for flights to Freetown International Airport has significantly decreased in recent months.
Umaru Fofana, a prominent journalist, commented on the issue and suggested that Sierra Leone reconsider its tax policy. Currently, passengers pay higher fares to travel to Sierra Leone compared to other destinations in the West African sub-region.
Fofana highlighted the substantial cost difference, stating that passengers can save several hundred dollars by flying from Europe or the US, and even more when traveling to Australia or South America, based solely on ticket costs. According to his sources, the high cost can be attributed to taxes imposed on travelers.
Passengers have also expressed concerns about additional charges at the airport, including a $50 security fee, which they consider exorbitant. The Civil Aviation Authority, responsible for managing the airport and airlines in the country, anticipates reducing costs by the end of the year.
Notably, the airport recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully passing the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit for the first time. This achievement raises expectations that more flights will be attracted to Sierra Leone by the year's end, ultimately resulting in increased revenue and a subsequent reduction in the high cost of travelling to Freetown from other destinations.
Fofana pointed out that it is unsurprising that many passengers would choose to travel to Guinea by road or boat and then fly from Conakry, considering the cost disparity.
AirFrance, with a fleet size of over 245 aircraft, serves 201 destinations across 78 countries. The airline's flight to Freetown was one of the few non-regional flights that operated at least once a week.