The government clarified on May 12 the alleged resumption of Air France commercial flights to Libreville. “No scheduled airline flight carrying passengers is allowed in Gabon until further notice,” says the Ministry of Transport.
Air France will not serve Gabon on June 21. Faced with persistent reports of the resumption of commercial flights by the French airline to Libreville, the Ministry of Transport denied on May 12.
“The Minister of Transport reminds all airlines that Order No. 22/2020 / MTEIH on temporary regulation of road, rail, air and water transport due to prevention against the Covid-19 pandemic, March 20, 2020, remains in force. Consequently, no scheduled airline flight carrying passengers is authorized in Gabon until further notice, “the statement from the ministerial department read.
On the web, social networks and online media (national and foreign) relayed a press release reporting the resumption of Air France commercial flights to several African cities. If it did not formally deny this information, the airline has instead corrected the matter.
“We are working with French and local authorities to adapt our flight schedule in real time, given the evolution of the situation and the new restrictions imposed on airlines,” Air France announced on May 13. And transport it to specify: “To date, and for the months of May and June, on the Africa network, only the destinations of Dakar and Cotonou remain open for sale with two flights per week to Dakar on Tuesdays and Sundays and 1 weekly flight to Cotonou on Wednesdays ”. Prior to the advent of Covid-19, Air France served Leon Mba International Airport seven times a week, serving 130,000 passengers a year from Paris. Flights to Libreville were suspended on March 21. Since the activity of the company is centered on “the operations of exceptional repatriation flights, as well as the execution of a minimum flight program equivalent to approximately 5% of the capacities usually offered”.