New Somali Carrier Hilaac Air Receives First Aircraft as Launch Draws Near
The Somali aviation sector is preparing to welcome a new player after private startup Hilaac Air took delivery of its first aircraft in Mogadishu on 19 February 2026. The arrival of a Saab 340 turboprop marks a tangible step towards the airline's commercial launch and signals growing entrepreneurial confidence in a market that has long been underserved and fragmented.
For travel professionals across sub-Saharan Africa, this development is worth watching closely. Somalia's domestic and regional air transport landscape has for years been characterised by a patchwork of small operators running limited and ageing fleets. Reliable scheduled services between Somali cities and to neighbouring countries have been inconsistent, making it difficult for agents to confidently book and sell air itineraries involving Somali destinations. A new carrier entering the market with fresh ambitions could begin to change that picture.
The Saab 340 is a well-proven regional workhorse, a twin-engine turboprop originally manufactured by the Swedish-American partnership between Saab and Fairchild. Capable of carrying around 34 passengers, the aircraft is ideally suited to the kinds of short-haul routes that dominate Somali aviation, connecting cities such as Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Bosaso, and Garowe as well as potential regional links to Djibouti, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa. Its relatively low operating costs and ability to handle shorter runways make it a practical choice for a startup entering a market where infrastructure remains limited.
Hilaac Air's emergence comes at a time when Somalia is making broader efforts to rebuild its national systems and attract both investment and international engagement. The country's tourism potential, while still largely untapped due to security concerns and infrastructure gaps, includes a lengthy Indian Ocean coastline, historical port cities with centuries of trading heritage, and a rich nomadic culture that could appeal to adventurous travellers seeking destinations well off the beaten path.
The new airline's name itself carries meaning. Hilaac translates to crescent in Somali, a symbol that resonates deeply within the culture and suggests the carrier's founders see this as the beginning of something that will grow steadily over time. Building an airline from scratch in any market is enormously challenging, and doing so in Somalia adds layers of complexity related to regulatory frameworks, insurance costs, security protocols, and the need to establish passenger trust from day one.
Yet there are reasons for cautious optimism. Several African carriers that launched in similarly difficult environments have gone on to build viable operations by focusing on underserved routes, keeping overheads lean, and delivering dependable schedules that passengers and agents can rely on. If Hilaac Air can establish a reputation for punctuality, safety, and consistent service, it could carve out a meaningful niche in the Horn of Africa's aviation market.
The wider trend across the continent is one of growing private sector participation in aviation. From West Africa to East Africa, new airlines are emerging to fill gaps left by struggling national carriers or to serve routes that larger operators have overlooked. While not all of these ventures will survive the brutal economics of running an airline, those that get the fundamentals right can unlock significant connectivity benefits for their home markets and the regions they serve.
African travel agents should keep an eye on Hilaac Air's progress in the coming months, particularly any announcements regarding its route network, launch date, and ticketing arrangements. For agents specialising in the Horn of Africa or handling diaspora travel between Somali communities and their home cities, a new scheduled carrier could open up fresh booking opportunities and provide a more reliable alternative to the operators currently serving the market.
The delivery of that first Saab 340 to Mogadishu is a small but meaningful moment for Somali aviation. Whether Hilaac Air can turn this promising start into a sustainable operation will depend on execution, funding, and the ability to earn the confidence of both passengers and the travel trade. The African aviation story continues to evolve, and Somalia now has a new chapter waiting to be written.
