Somalia plans to relaunch its national carrier Somali Airlines in September, more than three decades after the airline known as the “White Star” halted operations amid the collapse of the government of President Siad Barre and the ensuing civil war.
Ahmed Moallin Hassan, director general of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), said Somali Airlines had reached the final stage of preparations and was expected to operate its first flight in September.
“Somali Airlines is in the final stage,” Hassan said during a government meeting. “The first flight, I think, will start in September. This year, God willing, we will begin.”
Hassan made the announcement during a government meeting assessing preparations for Somalia’s 2022–2026 performance report.
The White Star prepares to rise again
Somali Airlines, once known as the “White Star,” suspended operations in 1991 after the fall of President Siad Barre’s government plunged Somalia into decades of conflict.
The airline had operated both domestic and international services, connecting Somalia with destinations across Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
Now, the government is preparing to bring the national carrier back as part of a broader effort to rebuild the country’s aviation sector.
Somalia said last year that the revived airline would have a fleet of five aircraft, while Transport Minister Mohamed Farah announced in July 2025 that the country had acquired Airbus A320 aircraft for the carrier.
But Mogadishu has yet to publicly provide full details of the planned September launch, including the aircraft to be deployed, initial routes or the airline’s ownership structure.
The planned return of Somali Airlines comes as Somalia works to rebuild control and capacity across its aviation sector.
In 2018, the country resumed full control of its airspace after its management had been handled from outside Somalia for decades.
Since then, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, says it has invested heavily in air-navigation infrastructure.
Rebuilding Somalia’s airspace
Hassan said the government has invested around $25 million in new aviation equipment, including communications and surveillance systems, while radio coverage has been expanded through signal boosters and installations across the country.
He also said Somalia has upgraded its airspace to Class A, the highest category under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s classification system, following the recruitment and training of personnel and upgrades to aviation systems.
The improvements are also generating revenue for the government.
According to Hassan, air-navigation services currently bring in around $20 million a year, with further upgrades expected to increase annual revenue to about $52 million.
The SCAA has also introduced a payment and settlement system for airlines and travel agencies, while cooperation with the International Air Transport Association has helped advance Somalia’s integration into international aviation systems.
And Somali Airlines will not be the only carrier expanding its presence in the country.
Hassan said Oman’s SalamAir had completed preparations to begin flights in September, while Rwanda’s RwandAir is expected to launch services in November. Saudi Arabia’s Flynas is also preparing to operate flights to Somalia.
Meanwhile, Somalia is preparing for an International Civil Aviation Organization safety audit, which Hassan said could take place in early 2027.
“We have finished the work. Only the launch remains.”
If Somali Airlines takes to the skies as planned, it will mark the return of a national flag carrier after a 35-year absence.
More than a symbolic revival, the government sees the airline as part of a wider effort to restore connectivity, attract international carriers and turn aviation into a source of revenue and economic growth.
For a country whose aviation sector was disrupted for decades by conflict, the return of the White Star would mark another visible step in rebuilding Somalia’s links with the world.
