Aviation History
Sierra Leone has never sustained a long-running flag carrier: Sierra Leone Airways (founded 1958) gave way to Sierra National Airlines in 1990 after a suspension, which itself faded amid financial trouble in the 2000s. A new state-linked carrier, Air Sierra Leone, only launched in January 2025 and has already encountered an EU flight restriction and the collapse of its wet-lease operating partner, underscoring how fragile the national-airline market remains.
Established after Sierra Leone withdrew from the regional West African Airways Corporation partnership.
The carrier was renamed following a partnership with Royal Jordanian Airlines.
Sierra Leone Airlines suspended services amid mounting operational and financial difficulties.
Service resumed under the new name Sierra National Airlines on 1 May 1990.
Scheduled flights between London Gatwick and Lungi International Airport restarted on 30 November 2004 after restructuring in the UK.
A new national carrier, Air Sierra Leone, flew its maiden flight from Freetown to Lagos on 22 January 2025 with a single leased Embraer ERJ-145.
Air Sierra Leone was barred from EU airspace and lost its wet-lease operating partner, Ascend Airways, which ceased operations in April 2026 — a still-developing situation for the young carrier.
Air Sierra Leone (launched 2025) · Sierra National Airlines (historic)
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