Air Sierra Leone suspends Gatwick ops over lack of aircraft

Air Sierra Leone (SXE, Freetown) has been forced to suspend all commercial operations, effective immediately, as its only route, a fifth freedom arrangement to London Gatwick from Freetown via Banjul, was forced to end abruptly. The move came after partner Ascend Airways (YD, London Gatwick) shut down its UK AOC and returned its aircraft to lessors, leaving the African carrier with no aircraft.

All flights on the route are suspended at least until the end of May, Air Sierra Leone said in a press release, adding that it was “actively discussing alternative aircraft arrangements with several operators.”

The company added that it wanted to “allow sufficient time for new aircraft to be registered with the relevant civil aviation authorities in Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom, and The Gambia.”

Air Sierra Leone Group COO Sukhjinder Mann elaborated: “We are equally shocked by the immediate cessation of Ascend Airways’ operations. They have been an excellent business parter, and we had no indication that they were experiencing financial difficulties. That said, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to have a significant impact on the aviation sector, with several airlines announcing closures or reducing their networks or frequencies.”

Air Sierra Leone used an all-economy 189-seater B737-8 from Ascend Airways, without relying on a fixed msn. The airline previously used only one other partner for the route, Titan Airways, when Ascend aircraft were unavailable.

The Freetown-based carrier’s website shows no bookings are available in May. But London services from Freetown and Banjul can be booked as of June, although the site still lists Ascend Airways as the operating carrier.

Mann previously told ch-aviation that Air Sierra Leone was mulling regional expansion as it continued to await its own air operator's certificate. The company currently needs partners to fly to Europe, as Sierra Leone was slapped with a ban over safety standards in 2008.

CH Aviation