Niamey: The AES airline, soon to be operational, is being developed through a collaborative effort between Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) aims to launch the airline by the end of 2026, as announced by Niger's Minister of Transport, Col-Major Abdourahamane Amadou, during an interview on national television.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the initiative seeks to enhance connectivity between the capitals of the three countries, reduce air transport costs and delays, and bolster regional integration. Col-Major Abdourahamane highlighted significant progress in the project, particularly following civil aviation day celebrations in Niger, where an agreement was signed among the member countries.
The discussions involved the general managers of the national airlines from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to establish the pooling of technical and financial resources for swift project implementation. The primary goal is to improve air links between the capitals of the AES region, where current travel can take an entire day for a journey that should only last around two and a half hours by flight.
The airline will serve a region spanning nearly 2.8 million square kilometers with a population between 70 and 75 million, offering substantial potential for profitability. Initially, the airline plans to connect the capitals and some inland cities, while also providing national services within Niger and supporting the transport of approximately 30,000 pilgrims annually.
The Minister noted that major difficulties have been avoided by adopting a cautious approach, learning from past failures in similar regional projects. The process is nearing completion, with finance ministries set to finalize budgetary details. Operations are expected to begin with a limited fleet, potentially standardizing Embraer 190 aircraft, already in use by Burkina Faso, to streamline maintenance and operations.
Future plans may include establishing maintenance facilities in collaboration with manufacturers. Beyond aviation, development plans encompass railway projects and road infrastructure modernization, addressing security challenges with mechanisms akin to those used for road convoys.
The Minister reiterated their commitment to transforming the transport sector into a strategic driver of socio-economic development, leveraging Niger's human and geographical assets, and addressing isolation as a challenge to overcome rather than a predetermined outcome.