Sky Mali (ML, Bamako) is set to commence revenue flight operations having secured its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from the Malian civil aviation authority (Agence Nationale de l'Aviation Civil du Mali - ANAC).
The start-up aims to target Mali's underserved domestic services sector and will connect Bamako with Kayes, Mopti, Gao, and Tombouctou initially. Thereafter, once West Africa's borders reopen to international flights, Sky Mali plans to serve cities throughout the region as well as Central Africa.
"We are targeting destinations in Central and West Africa where the Malian community is greatest such as Gabon, Cameroon, Congo, Niger, Ghana, Senegal, and Mauritania," Director General Baba Haïdara told Financial Arik in March.
Operationally, Sky Mali has a single aircraft on its AOC at present - B737-500 TZ-SMA (msn 25418), formerly ZS-PKV (msn 25418) with Africa Charter Airline (FSK, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo). It said earlier this year that it intended to add a second B737-500, an E145, and two 60-seater turboprops.
Sky Mali is funded by Emirati-backed firm Wings Investment. However, it has expressed a willingness to sell equity to local Malians as well as the state.
