Air Cote d’Ivoire has announced the suspension of its direct service between Abidjan and Johannesburg, a move that temporarily severs a key air link between West and Southern Africa.
According to airlinegeeks.com, the airline cited ongoing operational assessments as the reason behind the decision, though no timeline has been given for the route’s resumption.
Air Cote d’Ivoire launched the route in 2022, initially offering the service four times a week. The service was operated as an extension of the carrier’s route to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The airline used an Airbus A320neo, seating 16 passengers in Business class and 132 in Economy class, on the route. Air Cote d’Ivoire cited operational reasons for the suspension of the service.
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Abidjan-Johannesburg Route
When Air Cote d’Ivoire launched its Abidjan-Johannesburg service, it was the only carrier flying nonstop between the two cities. South Africa Airways had previously operated flights between Abidjan and Johannesburg, but it was in the middle of restructuring and had suspended the route.
South African Airways gradually restored its old routes, including between Abidjan and Johannesburg, offering three flights a week, with an Airbus A330.
Travel News reports that Air Cote d’Ivoire expects to resume the service in October this year. However, African aviation analyst Sean Mendis said that demand and yields on the route have been less than desirable for the carrier.
“The Johannesburg-Abidjan market has too much capacity with both Air Cote d’Ivoire and South African Airways serving it, the latter with A330 widebodies. And Air Cote d’Ivoire’s schedule and reliability were especially poor to compete,” Mendis said.
That said, Air Cote d’Ivoire expects to take delivery of two Airbus A330-900neo aircraft this month. The widebody jets will be used to expand the airline’s intercontinental route network. The carrier intends to launch scheduled services to Paris and Beirut.
