Sky Mali lands in Timbuktu, now considering ATR planes
In September 2020, Sky Mali, owned by the Emirati investment holding company Al Sayegh Group (ASG), started its commercial operations with the ambition of connecting the 10 administrative regions of Mali.
While it now serves 3 domestic routes, the company is planning a review of its future fleet.
Sky Mali launched its Bamako - Timbuktu route on Monday February 1.
The private Malian company therefore offers 2 weekly flights between the Malian capital and the city located in the north of the country (Monday and Friday). This is its third route since the start of its commercial operations on September 29, 2020. Based at Modibo Keïta international airport in Bamako, the carrier started with Kayes (5 weekly flights), and continued with Gao(2 weekly flights since December 24).
Beyond the economic issue, the arrival of Sky Mali in Timbuktu is also a political issue. Indeed, the last flight to "the pearl of the desert" dates back to 2012. This is what justifies the presence on board of the inaugural flight, of the Minister of Culture, Handicrafts and Tourism, Kadiatou Konare, and that of Transport and Infrastructures, Makan Fily Dabo. “This achievement is the realization of an accomplished duty, of a duty of solidarity towards the Timbuktu region. The opening of this route by Sky Mali contributes to opening up the city of Timbuktu and strengthening the umbilical cord between Bamako and northern Mali, "said Mr. Dabo, while he presided over the ceremony.
It is precisely in order to support the growth of its domestic and regional network, that Sky Mali took delivery on December 15, 2020, 1 ERJ-145 with 50 seats rented, in addition to its Boeing 737-500. Asked by Air Actu on Monday (February 1), Tahir Ndiaye, the company's chief executive, revealed that the company is considering acquiring turboprop engines. “We initially opted for leasing for 2 ERJ 145s which will serve the domestic network and the very close vicinity. But this is not a definitive option ", explains the former Senegalese executive of Air Afrique.
"We must be pragmatic, observe the new trends resulting from the post-COVID configuration, and continue to adjust the Plane- Network-Traffic. We are thinking for performance reasons of ATR 72s and other brand new aircraft,”he adds. For its regional and international deployment, Tahir Ndiaye intends to opt for a measured expansion by focusing on markets where there is a strong Malian diaspora. "We are going to deploy first in Africa, after the Middle East, and of course in Europe, France in particular and of course. Of course we are planning to acquire larger aircraft, the Boeing 737-800 and tomorrow the Max or the Airbus, we are not ruling out anything. But all in good time”.
