Fly Gabon levels up: West African carrier enhances fleet with addition of Airbus A320 and ATR 42-600
July 29, 2025
The two new aircraft mark a pivotal point in the airline’s operational expansion.
Having begun operations in August 2024, West African carrier Fly Gabon is now growing its fleet as it looks to strengthen its capabilities and broaden its network in the coming months.
With the addition of the two new aircraft, the airline currently operates a fleet of seven aircraft, including five ATR 72-600s, one CRJ 900 and the newly integrated A320.
Building on Afrijet’s foundations
Rather than a ground-up launch, Fly Gabon emerged following the Gabonese government ‘s acquisition of a 56% stake in Afrijet – a private airline founded in 2005. As a national airline, Fly Gabon is focused on domestic services to connect the country’s nine provinces but will now look to extend its network domestically, regionally and internationally.
The delivery of its first A320 at the end of July marks a pivotal change for the airline. With a 126-seat capacity, the aircraft will enable the carrier to serve medium-haul international routes to destinations across the sub-region as well as strategic destinations on the continent. Fly Gabon’s director general, Nyl Charles Moret, described the aircraft as: “a strategic acquisition allowing the airline to serve more destinations with more passengers.”
Airbus forecasts that there will be a 4.1% growth overall in air traffic in Africa over the next 20 years. This, the OEM predicts, will result in an anticipated need for 1,180 new aircraft by 2043.
“Airbus remains committed to partnering with airlines across Africa to identify optimised fleet solutions in line with network development requirements that further stimulate the continent’s air transport industry growth and improve connectivity for travellers,” said Geert Lemaire, market intelligence and consulting director, Airbus, last year.
Why the A320 marks a new era for Fly Gabon
The aircraft landed at Libreville’s Leon Mba International Airport on 23 July having departed from Johannesburg in South Africa. The delivery ceremony was presided over by President of the Republic, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who said: “We are resolutely setting out to conquer the sky.”
He also noted that the delivery of the A320 strengthens the national carrier’s fleet. “We reaffirm our regained sovereignty in the aviation sector and more broadly in transportation.”
Aujourd’hui, nous repartons résolument à la conquête du ciel. En accueillant un Airbus A320, qui vient renforcer la flotte de notre compagnie nationale FLY GABON, nous réaffirmons notre souveraineté retrouvée, dans le domaine aérien, et plus largement celui des transports.
— Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema (@oliguinguema) July 25, 2025
Avec… pic.twitter.com/qWN6eZGBSD
The aircraft will initially be used to serve routes between Libreville and Johannesburg in South Africa, as well as Cotonou in West Africa and Brazzavile in Central Africa.
Airbus arrival complemented by ATR delivery
The Airbus delivery builds on a firm order signed by Afrijet last September for an ATR 42-600 due to be delivered this week (with an option for an additional aircraft to be delivered in 2026).
According to news aero, the aircraft, registered TR-LKA (MSN 1801) came off the production line in May and has since completed a series of familiarisation flights from Toulouse. It will make multiple technical stopovers before its arrival in Libreville this week.
Speaking at the signing of the ATR order in Toulouse last year, Moret-Mba revealed the aircraft will replace the airline’s ATR 42-500s. “Equipped with 46 seats and cutting-edge technologies, we firmly believe that we have selected the most suitable aircraft to addres the unique demands of passenger traffic and to align with the airport infrastructure across our provinces.”
