Air Sierra Leone (SXE, Freetown), the virtual flag carrier of Sierra Leone, has announced it is in "advanced" discussions with three prospective aircraft suppliers to restore its suspended fifth-freedom flights between Freetown and London Gatwick via Banjul in late May or early June 2026.

"Regulatory procedures are currently underway with the relevant civil aviation authorities in Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and the United Kingdom as part of the process to restore full operations," the company said in a statement. Timelines remain subject to final approvals and operational readiness.

Air Sierra Leone was forced to suspend operations on April 30 after technical partner Ascend Airways lost its UK air operator’s certificate (AOC) and returned its aircraft to lessors.

The start-up had chartered a 189-seater, all-economy-class B737-8 from Ascend for the London route since mid-February 2026. The fifth-freedom route aimed to counter seasonality on the Freetown-London Gatwick market, sustain year-round operations, and improve aircraft utilisation during the low season.

Ascend Airways briefly sub-chartered an A321-200NX(LR) from Titan Airways for the launch of Air Sierra Leone's direct service to Gatwick in June 2025, when an Ascend aircraft was temporarily unavailable.

Air Sierra Leone is owned by Nigeria's Xejet (4U, Lagos), and is still finalising its AOC certification with the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority.