Air Djibouti has an eventful history. Founded in 1963, disbanded in 2002 and rebooted in 2015, the airline survived a turbulent era before finding a lease of new life. The lessons are well learned. “We reviewed our approach to avoid repeating past mistakes. Today the foundations are set up. We will not disappear from the radar again,” he swears.
Air Djibouti currently operates two Embraer ERJ-145s and Boeing 727 VIPs, offering eight destinations, primarily in East Africa and the Middle East. Yemen, Somalia and Ethiopia are one of the most important routes that frequently rotate.
With 70% of passengers carried in 2024 and over 41,500 passengers, Air Djibouti demonstrates its ability to attract a loyal customer base despite being in a highly competitive market, Ali Abdirahi says.
One of the main strengths of Air Djibouti is its ability to serve areas that are difficult to access. Yemen has been aware of the Civil War for almost a decade, but it is the main route.
“We are one of the few airlines operating under these conditions. Our aircraft operate two daily flights between Djibouti and Aden, with a high occupancy.”
This has allowed them to build a loyal customer base, including businessmen, humanitarian workers, and transportation, Ali Abdirahi says.
Additionally, the company relies on its local roots to highlight it. “Our crew speaks Arabic, Somali, French and English. This provides passengers with even greater comfort compared to competition,” the CEO emphasizes.
Air Djibouti follows a step-by-step strategy for growing. “You need to integrate before you invest,” says the CEO. The short-term goal of the airline is to stabilize local routes before opening them to new destinations. Dubai, Cairo and Nairobi are located in the pipeline, prioritizing solidifying regional networks before expanding any further.
Djibouti aims to become a local logistics hub, relying on port networks, land infrastructure and air transport. “The country wants to establish itself as an important link in the regional logistics chain. In the long run, we will play our part,” says Ali Abdirahi.
The company is considering acquiring two Airbus A320s to support the expansion. A training program has been launched to ensure a pool of qualified pilots and technicians. “We already have 15 trained pilots, including the first five women in Djibouti,” says Ali Abdirahi with pride.
Tourist next steps
While Air Djibouti's focus is primarily on serving the region, it recognizes its potential role in the country's expansion of tourism. We are preparing to open a route to Tajra and Obok where a new hotel was built. “Tadjoura can be reached in seven minutes by plane compared to four hours on the road,” says Ali Abdillahi.
To achieve this, Air Djibouti plans to hire small propeller planes that can land on existing runways in these areas. The idea is to attract visitors interested in diving, beaches, and whale shark watching, for example.
In giant-controlled markets such as Ethiopian Airlines and Qatar Airways, Air Djibouti wants to find its own niche based on knowledge of the topography and strong local roots.
