By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
Mogadishu, 18 August 2026 — The Federal Government of Somalia announced on Sunday that Somali Airlines is preparing to resume its operations, with its first flight expected to take off in mid-September.
Ahmed Maallin, Director of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, said the airline is in the final stages of preparations, with the necessary procedures for its relaunch nearing completion.
“Somali Airlines is in the final stages of preparations, and its first flight is expected to begin in mid-September 2026,” Maallin said.
The airline’s return is expected to mark a historic moment, more than three decades after Somali Airlines suspended its operations following the collapse of Somalia’s central government and the outbreak of civil war in the early 1990s.
The initial revival plan is centered on two Airbus A320 aircraft, which are expected to form the backbone of the airline’s domestic and regional operations.
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The government says preparations extend beyond acquiring aircraft and include aviation safety systems, certifications, operating approvals, aircraft maintenance and flight-management procedures.
The airline’s operations will be based at Aden Abdulle International Airport in Mogadishu.
The return of Somali Airlines comes as Somalia pursues broader reforms aimed at strengthening its civil aviation institutions and infrastructure. The government has also said that control of Somalia’s airspace has been restored to federal authorities, while the country’s flight information region has been upgraded to Class A.
For more than 30 years, air travel in Somalia has largely been served by private and foreign airlines. Officials expect Somali Airlines to improve domestic and regional connectivity, strengthen links with the Somali diaspora, create employment opportunities and support trade.
The revival of the national carrier is being presented by the Somali government as a symbol of institutional reconstruction and an effort to restore Somalia’s role within the international civil aviation system.