Somalia is on the brink of a major aviation revival, with the potential to restore its national carrier, Somali Airlines, after a 30-year hiatus. The country's transport minister, Mohamed Farah Noor, announced that the Federal Government has taken significant steps towards this goal, including forming a management board, establishing a regulatory framework, securing international partnerships, and purchasing new aircraft. The airline is now in the final stages of operational planning, with a confident forecast for its imminent return to the skies.
The relaunch is part of a broader push to rebuild Somalia's aviation sector, with four additional international airlines preparing to enter the market, joining the eight already flying to Mogadishu, including Turkish Airlines. In late July 2025, Somalia acquired two Airbus A320s under an agreement with Lima Holding Group, with the aircraft expected to become operational within two months. The authorities plan to add more jets, including larger models for long-distance routes, starting in 2026, supported by Somali pilots and aviation personnel trained abroad.
A significant milestone in the revival effort was the restoration of Somalia's access to the International Air Transport Association's Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) for the first time in 33 years. This system manages financial transactions between global airlines and travel agencies. IATA is now reinstating Somalia's BSP country code, a move essential for tracking ticket sales and reconnecting the country to standard commercial aviation systems.
The government has also restored Class A airspace and reestablished air traffic control after a three-decade disruption, aligning Somalia's airspace management with international standards. Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport has undergone upgrades to meet ICAO's highest benchmarks for safety and operational efficiency.
Further reforms set for 2025 include the contentious rollout of e-Visa and electronic travel authorization systems, mandatory advance passenger information and passenger name record requirements, and real-time data-sharing with Interpol and U.S. authorities. Somalia has also ratified seven global aviation security treaties to strengthen compliance and international cooperation.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud laid the foundation for a new Mogadishu International Airport last year, envisioned as a future transport hub for East Africa. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre praised the progress, crediting the Somali Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Transport for leading a transformation from collapse to a functioning, internationally recognized aviation system.
Somali Airlines, founded in 1964, once operated domestic and international flights before suspending service in 1991. Its planned return signals a symbolic and practical step in Somalia's effort to rebuild national institutions and rejoin global aviation networks.
