To meet growing demand: Afrijet, FlyGabon launch flights to Johannesburg.

The dinner was held to celebrate African aviation and foster regional integration through enhanced air connectivity.

The ceremony was presided by Country Director of Afrijet, Fadimatou Noutchemo. 

Key diplomatic figures including High Commissioner of the Republic Gabon to Cameroon, His Excellency Anthony Minko Milame; and South African High Commissioner to Cameroon, His Excellency Mandla Langa, among other diplomats, business leaders, travel professionals and media personnel also attended the ceremony.

Meeting needs of a dynamic continent

In her opening remarks, Afrijet Country Director, Fadimatou Noutchemo, expressed gratitude to guests for their unwavering trust and continued support.

She described Afrijet as a company driven by a commitment to “reliable, human-centered and accessible regional aviation”.

Noutchemo noted that Afrijet/FlyGabon is currently connecting over 10 African capitals through direct and regular flights.

She cited destinations such as Libreville which is their main hub, Douala and Yaounde in Cameroon, Malabo and Bata in Equatorial Guinea, Port-Gentil, Franceville, Oyem in Gabon, Cotonou in Benin, Port-Harcourt in Nigeria, Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire in Congo, as well as Bangui, Kinshasa, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Noutchemo equally noted that the Johannesburg route will officially open on July 16, 2025, stating that Afrijet aims to widen its presence in the southern region of the continent. 

This, she said, is in response to the growing mobility needs of professionals, diplomats, tourists, and families across Africa.

“Each of these routes has been designed to meet the professional, diplomatic, tourism, and family mobility needs of our vibrant and fast-evolving Africa,” Noutchemo stated.

Celebrating aviation, diplomacy

In her speech, Noutchemo insisted on the role of airlines as enablers of economic exchange, cultural understanding, and family reunification.

“Afrijet stands as the main airline bringing cultures, people, and communities together while facilitating business. Aviation is not just about transportation, it’s a catalyst for regional integration and local tourism,” she affirmed.

Acknowledging the visa process as the beginning of most travel plans, she urged diplomatic communities to continue fostering cooperation to ease mobility within Africa. 

Afrijet, she said, remains a trustworthy airline committed to the values of punctuality, affordability, and comfort.

To mark the summer holiday season, Noutchemo announced that Afrijet/FlyGabon will offer direct and fast flights for increased comfort, optimized schedules for short stays and easy connections, put in place at competitive prices with seasonal deals, warm onboard experience led by attentive staff and a loyalty programme rewarding frequent flyers.

“We want every traveller, whether flying for business or leisure, to feel safe, welcomed, and connected to the rest of Africa,” she said adding that each flight is not a journey, but a bridge between cultures, economies, and people.

Reviving a national dream

For Gabon, the announcement represents more than expanded flight routes. It reflects a national rebirth in the aviation sector following recent political transitions.

Speaking to reporters, Gabonese High Commissioner, Anthony Minko Milame, noted that the initiative is in line with the policies of the new government led by President Brice Oligui Nguema.

The creation of FlyGabon, he explained, stems from the desire to restore Gabon’s influence in African air travel.

“FlyGabon, founded in August 2024, in partnership with Afrijet, is a strategic move to reclaim Gabon’s rightful place in air commerce, one we should never have lost,” Minko Milame said.

He highlighted that FlyGabon and Afrijet now serve two main aviation hubs Libreville and Douala allowing efficient connections across CEMAC capitals including Bangui, Malabo, Douala, Yaounde, and Libreville and now Johannesburg.

According to the High Commissioner, the renewed aviation presence does more than transport people; it opens doors for tourism, regional trade, and investment. 

“It is a tool that allows us to connect not just countries, but economies and opportunities,” he added.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3475 of Monday June 16, 2025