Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, has responded to Air France's decision to suspend its operations in the country. In a recent announcement, the prominent French national airline stated that it would temporarily halt its operations in Sierra Leone due to low traffic volume in the region.
Concerned about this development, Chief Minister Sengeh personally reached out to the General Manager of Air France West Africa to gain insights into the decision. Taking to Twitter, he expressed his concerns, saying, "Had a good call with @AirFrance Fr GM West Africa to understand the decision to suspend some routes in the region [Freetown and Banjul] starting this winter. We discussed the long-term impact of Covid, flight availability, and volume of travelers. We thank AF and remain ready to welcome them again!"
Responding to the Minister's tweet, Rodney Michael expressed worry about the reduced options and potential cost increase for travelers. He hoped that alternative options would be made available to prevent an unbearable increase in travel costs to Europe. He also mentioned the new world-class terminal to consider in handling these options.
Popular journalist Umaru Fofana commented on the situation, suggesting that Sierra Leone reevaluate its tax policy. Currently, passengers traveling to Sierra Leone pay higher fares than other destinations in the West African sub-region. Fofana highlighted the potential savings for travelers who choose to fly from Europe or the US to other destinations instead, citing the taxes imposed by the airport, including an alleged exorbitant security fee of $50.
The Civil Aviation Authority, responsible for managing airports and airlines in Sierra Leone, projects a reduction in costs by the end of the year. This projection follows a successful audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at the airport, partly attributed to the recently constructed modern terminal. It is hoped that this achievement will attract more flights to Sierra Leone, increase revenue, and subsequently lead to a decrease in the high cost of travelling to Freetown from other destinations.
Fofana further emphasized the consequences of the suspension, pointing out that many passengers might choose to travel to Guinea by road or boat and fly from Conakry instead.
Air France, known for its extensive fleet of over 245 aircraft and services to 201 destinations in 78 countries, was one of the few airlines providing non-regional flights to Freetown at least once a week. The suspension raises concerns about limited travel options and the potential for increased costs for passengers.