Air Djibouti

Air Djibouti was founded in April 1963 as Compagnie Territoriale de Transports Aériens de la Cote Française des Somalis by a Capain B. Astraud, who had operated an air ambulance service in Madagascar and believed that Djibouti was in a position to support an airline that would boost the country's economy.

Air Djibouti (Red Sea Airlines) was founded in April 1971 after Air Somali (founded in 1962) by Air France and Les Messagéries Maritimes) took over Air Djiboui founded in 1963. Following financial difficulties, Air Djibouti (Red Sea Airlines) ceased operations January 1991 and was subsequently dissolved. The airline was reformed in 1997 and resumed regional and international passenger services in July again in July 1998, with an Airbus A310 on regional and international passenger services. In 2002, the airline ceased operations again.

The government of Djibouti approved the establishment of a national airline, which was scheduled to begin operations in late 2015. On August 16, 2016, the airline began regional flights. Air Djibouti relaunched services. The carrier started regional services on 16th August 2016. By September 2017, all aircraft had been returned to their lessors. Cargo and passenger services are mainly operated from Djibouti-Ambuli International Airport.

1962
Air Djibouti - Red Sea Airlines

Air Djibouti was set up as Compagnie Territoriale de Transports Aériens de la Cote Française des Somalis in April 1963 by a captain B. Astraud, who had been operating an air ambulance service in Madagascar and believed Djibouti was in condition to support an airline that would help boost the country's economy.

Operations commenced in April 1964 with a fleet of one Bristol 170, one De Havilland Dragon Rapide and two Beechcraft Model 18 aircraft, initially serving Dikhil, Obock and Tadjoura.

Air Djibouti Douglas C47

With a brand-new Douglas C47 in its fleet, the airline began flights between Dire Dawa and Aden, Addis Ababa and Taiz. The success of this service prompted the airline to purchase five more DC-3 from Air Liban, which quickly replaced the smaller aircraft in the fleet. Carrying mail people for the government, as well as charter and Hajj flights supplemented the airline revenues.

The airline's first accident occurred on July 23, 1969, when on its C-47s registration F-OCKT 47 made an emergence landing 9 nautical miles (17 km) off Djibouti aftercollidingwith several cranes at an altitude of 300 feet (91 m). The aircraft was on domestic flight from Tadjoura Airport to Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport. All four people on board survived.

The two Beech crafts were replaced in 1969 when Air Djibouti purchased one Bell JetRanger helicopter, and a Piper Cherokee Six.

Air Djibouti (1971–2014)

Air Djibouti leased from UTA (Union des Transports Aériens) 1973 - 1975 two Douglas DC-6B for their long haul flights, i.e Paris.

Air Djibouti Douglas DC6B F-OCYJ
Air Djibouti had two De Havilland DHC 6 Twin Otter J2-KAA and J2-KAB in their fleet during 1975-1991

In 1977, following the independence of Djibouti, the government boosted its participation in the carrier to 62.5%; Air France held 32.29% and banks and private investors held the balance.

1980

At July 1980, the number of employees was 210 and the fleet consisted of two Twin Otter aircraft. At this time, a domestic network was served along with international flights to Aden, Hodeida and Taiz; Addis Ababa, Cairo and Jeddah were also served in conjunction with Air France. Air Djibouti decided to lease Boeing 737-200 to boost the fleet. The first to arrive was PH-TVD 1980 and stayed two years. Then in 1983 Air Djibouti the leased two Boeing 737 from Sobelair OO-SBQ and SDE, but they were left back to the lessor. Air Djibouti came to have seven different types of Boeing 737-200s in its fleet.

Air Djibouti Boeing 737-200 PH-TVD in service 1980-1982.

Air Djibouti Boeing 737-200 OO-SBQ leased from Sobelair and in service 1987-1998.


Air Djibouti leased also two Boeing 727-21C temporary during 1982, D-AHLS and J2-KAD were in service 1982-1983

On August 17, 1986, a leased Boeing 737-200 (OO-SBQ) was intercepted by two fighter aircraft from the South Yemeni Air Force and forced to land in Aden. There it was ransacked by security forces and one person was arrested. Due to the incident, the Republic of Djibouti broke off diplomatic relations with South Yemen.

Due to an approaching economic crisis, the airline had to find a leasing company that had better conditions than Sobelair and Lufthansa. The choice fell on JAT, Jugoslovenski Aerotransport to lease two Douglas DC-9-31 for its operations 1987- 1992.

Air Djibouti Douglas DC9-30 DJ-AHU

Air Djibouti Douglas DC9-30 DJ-AJI.

1990

With a fleet of two DC-9-30s and two Twin Otters in 1990, Air Djibouti operated flights to Abu Dhabi, Aden, Addis Ababa, Cairo, Dire Dawa, Hargeisa, Jeddah, Nairobi, Paris, Rome and Sana'a as part of the airline's international network, and flew domestically to Obock and Tadjoura. The president was Aden Robleh Awaleh, who employed 229. The airline ceased operations at the end of 1991.

Air Djibouti Djibouti Red Sea airlines Airbus A310-200, F-OHPQ.

Air Djibouti Airlines was once again reformed. This time by former director of Puntavia, Moussa Rasyale and Saudi Arabian partners. Puntavia was an ex-charter company (1991-1996) aircraft, the Letov L-410, an ex Antonov AN-24 and a Boeing 727 which was leased from time to time. Puntavia operated irregularly scheduled service from Djibouti to Addis Abeba, Jeddah and some Gulf States.

Puntavia Letov L-410, J2-KBA

Puntavia Boeing 727-200, J2-KBH

Operations started again in July 1998 using a leased ex-Kuwait Airways 194-seater Airbus A310-200. At March 2000, the A310 was deployed on scheduled routes to Addis Ababa, Asmara, Cairo, Dar-es-Salaam, Dubai, Jeddah, Johannesburg, Karachi, Khartoum, Mogadishu, Mombasa, Muscat, Nairobi, Rome and Taiz. Due to final crises, Air Djibouti ceased operations in 2002.

* Why was Air Djibouti a interesting airline. It was part of the Red Sea state’s goal of becoming a major logistics hub. It is building four new ports, two airports, and a $3.5 billion-free trade zone set to be partially open by the middle of 2025.

Tiny Djibouti is sandwiched between Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa, sitting strategically at the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

Relaunch of Air Djibouti

Air Djibouti was set to relaunch service in late 2015 and 2016 with Chairman Aboubaker Omar Hadi and CEO Mario Fulgoni. The company is also supported by South Wales-based Cardiff Aviation by CEO Bruce Dickingson. In late 2015 Air Djibouti relaunched service with a Boeing 737-400 freighter.

Bruce Dickingson during deliverance of the "new" Boeing 737-400 to Air Djibouti.

The government wanted to establish the country as a regional logistics and commercial hub for trade in East Africa, and chose to relaunch the airline as part of this plan. The airline started regional services with the Boeing 737-400 on 16 August 2016 and planned to introduce two British Aerospace 146-300 aircraft before the end of 2016.

Everyone was there to receive Air Djibouti's new flagship arrive in Djibouti and future plans were high in the blue sky.

The Boeing 737-400 9H-VVB was delivered to Air Djibouti on 11th August 2016 by Cardiff Aviation and operated until Cardiff Aviation went bankrupt in 2017.

After investigations of suitable aircraft for this purpose, the management recommended the government to choose a Boeing 737-400 aircraft boosted later by a British Aerospace BAe-146.

The airline operated passenger and cargo services to Addis Abeba and Hargeisha in Somaliland, Mogadishu in Somalia.

Air Djibouti BAe-146-300 Avro RJ, ZS-SOR msn 3155

The BAe-146-300 Avro RJ, ZS-SOR cn 3155 was added to Air Djibouti fleet in early November 2016 and operated until September 2017.

Wales-based aircraft services and MRO provider, Cardiff Aviation, announced on 14th November 2017i it had ended its contract with the Djibouti Ports and Free Zone Authority (DPFZA) concerning its involvement in Air Djibouti (DJ, Djibouti).

Under the terms of its MOU with the DPFZA signed in May 2015, Cardiff Aviation was tasked with securing and managing a European-level Air Operators Certificate (AOC) for Air Djibouti in addition to sourcing aircraft and providing operational management for the new African carrier.

Reportedly unverified, Air Djibouti mismanaged its financial deal with Cardiff Aviation leading to bankruptcy.

After the break up from Cardiff Aviation, the Boeing 737-400 and Bae-146 were brought back to their lessors.
A new CEO, Abdourahman Ali Abdillahi was appointed in Djibouti who should be overseeing an airline that has seen a steady increase in loads throughout the set-up process and important airline partnership agreements initiated, so we hope that trend will continue,” Cardiff Aviation chairman Bruce Dickinson said.

2018


The new Garowe Airport and Air Djibouti temporary leased Canadair Jet CRJ-200 5Y-JXG.

A new international airport at Garowe has been unveiled in Somalia’s semi-autonomous northern state of Puntland. The airport becomes the third in the region and Puntland leaders hope it will help boost the country’s economy.

The private Kenyan airline, Safe Air Company, has announced that Air Djibouti will now fly the IATA true letter code of SAC (K) Ltd and its three digit Iata clearing house. "The establishment of this partnership creates exciting new opportunities for collaboration and exchange, stated the carrier, which provided Air Djibouti with three smaller aircraft i.e picture above the Canadair RegionalJ et CRJ-200 5Y-JXG in Air Djibouti sticker (Bombardier and Fokker) last November. In addition, two A320s will be used to connect Djibouti to Cairo, Dubai and Jeddah.

Above that, SAC is set to begin scheduled cargo flights to the Yemeni city of Aden, one of the few foreign airlines to supply the civil war-stricken country with relief material on a regular base. (ah)

Air Djibouti Fokker 100, UP F1009

Air Djibouti leased a Fokker 100 from Bek Air in June 2018 to operate services to Dire Dawa and Addis Abeba in Ethiopia, Aden in Jemen and to Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Bossaso i Somalia. During the same period they added a leased Fokker 50 for a short time with stickers on the boddy.

Air Djibouti Fokker F50 5Y-SED.

2019

Air Djibouti Embraer ERJ145LR ET-AVV

Air Djibouti leased a further aircraft a Boeing 737-500, May 2019 from Asia Sky Line in Tajikistan inclusive crew for operation in Djibouti and nearby countries.

Air Djibouti Boeing 737-500, EY-560

2020

Times Aerospace in May 2020; Air Djibouti aims to carry 240.000 passengers and targeting a load factor of 85-90%, impressive figures when compared to 70% in 2019.

Air Djibouti Embraer ERJ145LR ET-AVU

On June 25 Air Djibouti received a new Embraer ERJ 145. Named after the Damerjog region, this aircraft is the second of the same type owned by the national airline, the other being named after the island of Moucha. These two aircraft are leased from National each a capacity of 50 seats and will operate services to Aden in Jemen and to Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Bossaso i Somalia.

The final count down, the Boeing 737-500 EY-560 seen here to be towed away from the crash-site on the runway.

On 2 December, 2020 the Boeing 737-500 suffered the collapse of its main landing gear at Garowe, in Somalia. According to the Av Herald, the 28 year old aircraft, with registration EY-560, was performing flight IV-206 from Hargeisa (Somalia) to Mogadishu (Somalia) with intermediate stops in Hargeisa and Garowe. During the landing at Garowe Airport, it suffered the collapse of the right hand main gear at low speed. The aircraft was towed to the parking stand for investigation of the damage on the landing gear and body. The aircraft has been stored since then.

The final count down, the Boeing 737-500 EY-560 seen here to be towed away from the crash-site on the runway. 2021

Air Djibouti Embraer ERJ145LR ET-AVU at Aden.

2022

Air Djibouti Embraer ERJ-145, ET-AVU and ET-AVV at Amboli, Djibouti Int Airport

Air Djibouti has two Embraer ERJ-145LR in its fleet. Uncertain sources say that Air Djibouti has ordered two Boeing B737-800!

On the occasion of the new year, the CEO of Air Djibouti and all the employees of the national carrier wish you health, happiness and prosperity for 2023.

2023

Air Djibouti has still two Embraer ERJ-145LR in its fleet.



Please come back soon!