Boeing 787 landed at the Freetown International Airport on Friday May 31st, 2024, marking the commencement of operations in Sierra Leone amidst pump and pageantry.
The first batch of passengers left in the early hours of Saturday 1st June 2024.
The crew was welcomed by the Minister of Transport and Aviation, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Director general SLCAA amongst other personalities,
It will be operating a three-day flight into the country making it eight of total flights in operation in Sierra Leone.
The Flight also now connects Sierra Leone to over 165 destinations across Africa, Asia, America and Europe and 65 cities including South, East and Central Africa bringing all categories of passengers to connect the world.
Director General Civil Aviation Authority, Musayeroh Barrie said in no uncertain terms that ‘’ it has been a very busy five months of intensive work’’ and was happy that it yielded positive dividends stating that more flights are on their way to start operations in the country and once that is achieved, the prices of tickets will reduce drastically.
The DG has vowed not to rest until Sierra Leone is removed from the Air Safety blacklist which process is at an advance stage, the reason she is deeply encouraged by the support she is receiving from the president for entrusting in her such a responsibility.
When president Bio immediately after his re-election in June 2023 decided to appoint Musayaroh Barrie as Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) he had in mind that the British trained woman is capable enough to transform the Aviation industry and that is exactly what is being done.
Within a short spell of her appointment, Musayaroh Barrie has carved a niche for herself and propelled the name of the industry into enviable status. So, when on 31st May 2024 Sierra Leoneans received the news of the landing of Africa’s biggest Airlines, the Ethiopian Airlines, Boeing 787 in the evening hours at the Freetown International Airport, it was just another testimony of the success story of the soft-spoken DG.
This is another remarkable success venture by Director General of the Sierra Leone Aviation Authority (SLCAA) working hours on end to see this dream come to pass. ‘‘We shall surely get there’’ she told her audience during the inaugural press briefing marking the arrival of the flight.
According to the Minister of Transport and Aviation, Fanday Turay, the arrival of the Ethiopian flight is the culmination of five-month journey which commenced when they attended the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conference in Saudi Arabia last year December. He recalled that bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Sierra Leone began immediately after Sierra Leone gained independence in 1961.
Fanday Turay noted that his Ministry in lieu of the SLCAA signed a bilateral agreement at the ICAO event in December 2023 and five months on, Sierra Leone is welcoming the Ethiopian airlines into the country, an indication that with hard work and unity more can be achieved. “We will surely get there”, he assured his audience.
He said it has always been the dream of President Bio to make the Aviation industry viable and an engine for socio-economic growth stating that Sierra Leone has a score of 71% in Aviation Security Safety adding that the Aviation Authority is committed to ensuring safety of passengers whilst assuring the Ethiopian Airlines management of a business-friendly environment.
Haile melekot Mam, VP ET Ethiopian Airlines said he was very grateful that they landed in the shores of Sierra Leones after five months of interrupted negotiations stating that they are pleased to offer the best of services for what he referred to as ‘‘ their African brothers and sisters’’
“From the bottom of my heart we are glad to connect Sierra Leone, a country very closer to the Asian market ‘’ recalling that the Airlines has just celebrated its 78 years of existence and has put in place a strategic plan for another 50 years of operations stating that Sierra Leone is now part of this journey to help the Airlines expand
He said the Airlines will continue to develop strategies.
Pilot, with Sierra Leonean heritage said he was proud to be part of this journey as he will always be happy to fly to Sierra Leone.
Nabeela Tunis , Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, for her part stated that she was very encouraged by the move and wholeheartedly welcome the Airlines into the country, a very interesting country to do business. She stressed
The event was climaxed with the cutting of the cake and presentation of gifts
Leave a Reply