Cameroon’s national airline, Camair-Co, is taking the next step in its recovery plan. After re-establishing regional routes to Libreville, N’Djamena, Bangui, Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Cotonou, the state-owned carrier is preparing to launch new routes to Kinshasa, Lagos, Abuja, and Malabo by the end of the year, according to the latest issue of its corporate magazine, reviewed by Business in Cameroon.

This expansion marks the second phase of the airline’s rollout across the African continent. In the medium term, this will be followed by a return to its intercontinental network, with a resumption of flights to Paris. “The African air transport industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Faced with this reality, we must adapt to overcome the challenges of increased competition in the Cameroonian skies, meet the demands of recovery, and satisfy the ever-growing expectations of our passengers,” said Jean Christophe Ella Nguema, Camair-Co’s General Manager.

On these strategic African routes, Camair-Co will face stiff competition from well-established carriers. Airlines like Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, RwandAir, and Asky Airlines already operate on these lines, with a strong presence in Lagos, Kinshasa, and Abuja. This environment will require the Cameroonian airline to enhance its competitiveness in service quality, punctuality, and pricing strategy.

To achieve its ambitions, Camair-Co is relying on a recovery plan worth nearly 100 billion CFA francs, which began with the recent acquisition of a Boeing 737-800. The company’s stated goal is clear: to “become a high-performing and self-sufficient airline in several sectors of the aviation industry.” To that end, management has developed a five-year strategy focused on modernizing its fleet, expanding its network, improving service quality, and digitizing internal processes. Nine key sectors have been identified for self-sufficiency, with maintenance being the top priority.

As the undisputed leader in domestic air transport, with 11,606 movements and 549,303 passengers in 2024, Camair-Co is now leveraging its network expansion to consolidate its position in Africa and prepare for its return to intercontinental routes.

Source: Business in Cameroon