Air Djibouti receives first 737 ahead of launch of commercial operations

Air Djibouti received (11-Aug-2016) its first Boeing 737 aircraft in preparation for the launch of commercial operations. The aircraft was delivered from Cardiff by the airline's operational management and technical assistance provider Cardiff Aviation and will enter service on 16-Aug-2016. The airline will initially use the aircraft on regional services. The carrier also plans to introduce two BAe 146-300 aircraft by mid Sep-2016 and mid Oct-2016 and one 767-300 in Dec-2016. The 767 will initially operate between Djibouti and London. The carrier intends to launch other international services and regional freight operations. The launch of commercial operations by the airline forms part of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority's (DPFZA) strategy to establish Djibouti as a major regional logistics centre. Air Djibouti and DPFZA chairman Aboubaker Omar Hadi said, "The establishment of a flag carrier is an integral part of the DPFZA's drive to achieve excellence in logistics." [more - original PR]