Air Sierra Leone Resumes Direct Flights to Nigeria After 15 Years

Sierra Leone’s national carrier, Air Sierra Leone, has restarted its scheduled flight operations between Lagos and Freetown, marking its return to Nigeria after over 15 years. The airline has partnered with Nigerian carrier XEJet, which provides technical support and three operational aircraft for Air Sierra Leone’s return to the Nigerian market. During the inaugural flight ceremony at Lagos airport, Air Sierra Leone’s General Manager, Edgard Lacle, expressed excitement about the airline’s return. He shared that the airline has secured approval to operate three flights weekly—on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—with plans to increase the frequency as passenger numbers grow. For the inaugural flight, Air Sierra Leone carried 36 passengers into Nigeria. Lacle emphasized the strong trade and tourism connections between Sierra Leone and Nigeria, noting that the partnership with XEJet was designed to meet market demands. He assured that the airline would adjust its services as the market evolves. XEJet’s CEO, Iza Emmanuel, described the event as the “rebirth” of Air Sierra Leone in Nigeria and praised the strong ties between the two nations. He highlighted the airline’s creation as a symbol of hope, progress, and resilience for Sierra Leone, and expressed gratitude for the presence of dignitaries from both countries at the milestone event.