Mali cancels Air France’s clearance to resume flights

Malian authorities have nullified authorization given to Air France to resume flights to the West African country after the airline suspended its services in August 2023.

The decision came a day after Air France announced plans to resume flights to Mali from Friday October 13. The airline suspended on August 7 its flights to Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger after a junta deposed on July 26 Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum and shut down its airspace.

Malian transition authorities on August 11 slammed Air France’s decision and accused the carrier of unilaterally suspending its flights to the country without prior and adequate information to authorities and customers.

A statement by the Transport Ministry said the National Aeronautical Authority of Mali is still “examining the request made by Air France for resumption of flights.” Air France used to operate seven flights per week to Mali and five to Burkina Faso.

The airline on Tuesday October 10 indicated that it would resume service to Mali’s capital Bamako from Paris with three direct flights per week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays through a third party, Portuguese EuroAtlantic Airways.