Air Burkina: Maxime Dipina Christian Toe appointed DG, after the dismissal of Blaise Sanou
The newly promoted person knows the company Air Burkina well, having been, shortly before 2017, commercial director.
Maxime Dipina Christian Toe is the new Director General of Air Burkina. He was appointed on Wednesday 11 May 2022, following the Council of Ministers.
He replaces Blaise Sanou, who was sacked on 27 April last, shortly after the incident during which a fire broke out in one of the engines of the Embraer ERJ195 (XT-ABV, MSN 067), which had just completed technical tests on the tarmac at Ouagadougou airport.
In his new position, Maxime Dipina Christian Toe is expected to turn around Air Burkina, which is experiencing "difficulties and serious shortcomings related to its operation", according to the government. With a deficit and debt, Burkina Faso's national flag is now without active aircraft - its three Embraer planes (two ERJ195, one ERJ175), owned by the leasing company Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), are all out of service. The health crisis has added to supplier debts while salary arrears are mounting.
Among the issues awaiting Maxime Dipina is the thorny issue of the partial privatisation of Air Burkina. Started on 20 October 2020 following the partnership agreement with African Global Development (AGD), the process has stalled since then. In March 2021, the boss of the American group - whose credibility raises curiosity - was in Ouagadougou for the presentation of his five-year plan, the outlines of which have not been revealed. However, AGD promised at the signing of the agreement to inject 250 billion FCFA (452 million USD) into the capital of Air Burkina, for the acquisition of 12 aircraft - including Airbus aircraft, the launch of routes to Europe, and the opening of an aircraft maintenance centre in Ouagadougou.
