Air Sierra Leone's Return to Skies Delayed, Despite October Promise

Air Sierra Leone had announced in August its intention to resume commercial flight operations by the end of October 2026. The airline had assured passengers that flights between Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and the United Kingdom would resume for the Winter Season. Passengers could secure seats through the airline's official website, authorised travel agencies, or directly at its office.

However, as of November 9, 2026, the airline's promised return has not been independently confirmed through publicly available flight-operation records. The airline's website currently states that Air Sierra Leone resumed flights on October 29, 2026, and advertises services to London Gatwick, Freetown, Lagos, and Banjul.

Air Sierra Leone suspended its commercial operations on April 30, 2026, after its former technical partner, Ascend Airways, ceased operations and returned its aircraft to lessors. The disruption left Air Sierra Leone without an aircraft to operate its London Gatwick service, which connected Freetown to London through Banjul under a fifth-freedom arrangement.

According to aviation industry publication ch-aviation, Air Sierra Leone had been using a Boeing 737-8 aircraft chartered from Ascend Airways for the route, with a capacity of 189 passengers. The suspension followed Ascend Airways' loss of its UK Air Operator Certificate (AOC), which brought its operations to an abrupt end.

In August 2026, Air Sierra Leone announced that it had secured the necessary regulatory approvals from the UK Civil Aviation Authority to recommence its London routes. The airline was expected to operate a replacement aircraft through a new partnership after the collapse of its arrangement with Ascend Airways.

In September 2026, ch-aviation reported that Air Sierra Leone was considering a Boeing 737-9 aircraft from Corendon Dutch Airlines for its planned London operations. A separate report by Travel News Africa on September 7, 2026, said the airline was in advanced discussions with Corendon over a charter arrangement, with the proposed relaunch still targeted for the end of October.

The delayed return of Air Sierra Leone has raised concerns among passengers and stakeholders, who are eagerly awaiting the resumption of flights. The airline's failure to provide independently verifiable evidence of its resumed operations has sparked skepticism about its ability to meet its commitments.

Key points

• Air Sierra Leone's planned return to commercial flight operations has been delayed.
• The airline's website claims that flights resumed on October 29, 2026, but this has not been independently confirmed.
• Air Sierra Leone is considering a new partnership with Corendon Dutch Airlines to secure a replacement aircraft.