Air France will resume its flights to Bamako, the capital of Mali, from October 13, 2023. The airline suspended this route last August following political events in neighboring Niger. This resumption of flights marks a gradual return of aviation activity in the region.
The announcement of the resumption of flights was made by Air France last Tuesday. The company specified that it was working in close collaboration with the Burkinabe authorities to quickly restore service to Burkina Faso. However, the line to Niamey in Niger remains suspended until further notice.
A particularity of this resumption of flights is that the planes used will not be those of Air France, but a Boeing 777-200 ER belonging to the Portuguese company EuroAtlantic Airways. This company specializing in the rental of devices to third-party companies offers guarantees of compliance with French and European regulations. On-board services will be similar to those of flights operated by Air France, with Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins.
The decision to suspend flights to Bamako was taken in reaction to political events in Niger. In fact, the Malian authorities had canceled the operating authorization granted to Air France in retaliation for the suspension of flights. Relations between France and Mali have deteriorated since the 2020 military coup. The ruling junta turned to Russia and expelled the French ambassador, creating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Air France carefully monitors the evolution of the geopolitical situation in the countries served and emphasizes that the safety of passengers and crew remains its top priority. The resumption of flights to Bamako is a positive step in the re-establishment of air links in the region, and we hope that this will pave the way for a strengthening of relations between France and Mali.
In conclusion, the resumption of Air France flights to Bamako is good news for travelers and for the development of relations between the two countries. This decision demonstrates the airline’s desire to maintain air connections even in a complex geopolitical context. Let us hope that this resumption marks the beginning of a normalization of relations between France and Mali.