Somalia has again set a target for the revival of its national carrier, Somali Airlines, with the Civil Aviation Authority saying direct flights could begin in September 2026, more than three decades after the airline halted operations.
Civil Aviation Authority Director Ahmed Macallin said preparations for the relaunch had been completed and that the airline was expected to begin flying soon.
The latest timetable follows several earlier promises to restart Somali Airlines. In July 2025, the government announced an agreement involving two Airbus A320 aircraft as the first step towards reviving the carrier after operations stopped in 1991.
Officials later said the airline would begin operations within months, and by October 2025 the government was again forecasting a restart before the end of that year.
The new September 2026 target therefore represents another attempt to turn the long-running revival plan into an operating airline.
Restarting a national carrier involves more than securing aircraft. The airline must meet aviation safety requirements, obtain the necessary operating approvals, have appropriately trained personnel and establish systems for maintenance, insurance, flight planning and airport arrangements.
Those requirements will be closely watched as Somalia moves towards the September target.The government’s 2025 agreement for two A320 aircraft was presented as the initial phase of a broader plan to rebuild the national carrier, with additional aircraft envisaged as operations expand.
Somali Airlines was established in 1964 and became an important regional and international carrier before its operations were suspended following the collapse of Somalia’s central government and the outbreak of civil war in 1991.
Its return would therefore carry significance beyond the aviation sector, potentially improving connectivity for Somali passengers, supporting trade and creating jobs in aviation-related services.
For Somalia’s aviation industry, however, the September announcement will ultimately be judged by whether passengers actually see a Somali Airlines aircraft operating scheduled commercial flights.
After several missed or postponed timelines, the immediate test is no longer the announcement of a revival but the completion of the regulatory, operational and safety requirements needed to sustain it.
