ASKY Airlines (KP, Lomé) is targeting a fleet of 30 aircraft and 40 destinations within five years as it prepares to launch intercontinental services and establish a USD100 million maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Lomé, according to CEO Esayas Woldemariam Hailu.
In an interview with Arabian & African Aerospace at Aviation Africa 2026 in Nairobi, Hailu said ASKY took delivery of its 17th aircraft, a B737-8, in August 2026, bringing its fleet to eight B737 MAX and nine B737-800s. The 18th aircraft is due on January 19, 2027, followed by a 19th in February, with further deliveries planned, he said.
According to ch-aviation data, the latest two B737-8s to be delivered, from minority shareholder Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa International, were ET-BCK (msn 60184), which arrived at Lomé on July 16, and ET-BCJ (msn 60646), delivered on July 5.
Over the next five years, ASKY plans to expand its network to 40 destinations, Hailu said, including intercontinental services to London, Paris, Dubai International, Mumbai International, and Jeddah International. African expansion targets include Cape Town International, Entebbe, and Kigali.
The carrier plans to use B787s for its long-haul operations, initially deploying two aircraft and eventually increasing the fleet to three. Hailu said the widebody programme had been delayed from earlier plans, confirming an earlier report by ch-aviation that ASKY now targets late 2027 or early 2028, citing high costs and limited aircraft availability.
ASKY Airlines aims to source the B787s through its strategic relationship with Ethiopian Airlines, which also provides management and maintenance support. Hailu said the relationship gives ASKY access to financing and potentially more favourable leasing costs.
The airline is also restructuring its Lomé hub ahead of the launch, introducing a double-banking schedule with an additional night wave of arrivals and departures to feed future European services. Hailu expects the night bank to be fully established by mid-2027.
Meanwhile, ASKY and Ethiopian are planning a USD100 million MRO facility in Lomé. The Togolese government has allocated land for the project, while Boeing has completed a feasibility study. The facility is intended to support ASKY's fleet and serve other airlines in West and Central Africa, with full operations targeted for late 2028.
