<strong>Air France Suspends operations in Sierra Leone</strong>

By Mustapha Dumbuya

Air France a renowned air taxi that has been operating in Sierra Leone to France has suspended its operations. Edgard D. Lacle the Commercial Manger of Air France African Solution and Logistics Limited in exclusive interview confirmed to public review that Air France had suspended operations in Sierra Leone. According to him, Air France had been suspended it operations since June this year as the Company has failed to meet its target due to low turnout numbers of passengers. The Manager stated that they are running the company as business which in turn they had to look for profit and loses bases. “If the charges of operations levied against our company are so high it is our right to suspend or stop operations if the need arise” the manager said.

According to Air France’s press release, it stated: “We are currently unable to schedule you on a different flight to Freetown. Unfortunately, your flight AF0596 scheduled on 12/9/2023 has been canceled. If your booking includes one or more connections, all the flights in your booking will be canceled…we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We look forward to seeing you on board our Air France-KLM aircraft in the future…”

Mr. Lacle pointed that they are operating under the canopy of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation and hoping that they will intervene and solve the problem before they could resume operation.

In Sierra Leone, there are several passengers who choose to travel from our neighboring country Conakry to Europe or the US – and a lot more to Australia and South America on bases of ticket cost. Amadu Tejan Jalloh, a regular passenger  and a business man who always travelling from sierra Leone to China and United Arab Emirate (Dubai) argued that it better he took off from Conakry to those countries or any European country due to ticket price. ‘We cannot compare Sierra Leone and Guinea because Guinea is far away better than Sierra Leone when look at the cost of ticket and them tax levied on us as passengers in Sierra Leone, “he explained.

Moreover, it seems that the Government of Sierra Leone is happy about this decision. In that note, the Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, David Sengeh stated: “Had a good call with Air France Fr GM West Africa to understand the decision to suspend some routes in the region (Freetown and Babgul) starting their winter. Long-term impact of Covid, flight availability, and volume of travelers were discussed. We thank AF and remain ready to welcome them again…” However, Daddy Brima, President of Sierra Leone Football Association commented: “This cannot be good. With fewer options, costs will increase. I hope you are able to convince others to provide options. Otherwise, costs will become unbearable to travel to Europe…”  

What does this decision from the Air France management affect the Sierra Leoneans; employees? In nexus to that, Public Review interviewed some of the employees (Sierra Leoneans) from Air France about their fates in line with this action/ decision. Alima Sillah, a receptionist said: “We are left stranded. Yes financially stranded. Now I am unemployed…I wish they reverse this decision…” Mohamed Kamara, a security guard narrated: “This action from Air France has left me unemployed. I think government need to do something about it…”