Photo Credit: APG
Air Burkina has launched an emergency ACMI lease for a Boeing 737 to maintain scheduled operations following the grounding of its only owned aircraft, an Embraer E190LR.
The leased aircraft will operate between August 11 and September 11, 2025, under a short-term ACMI agreement that includes Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance. This arrangement was triggered by the removal from service of the 12-year-old E190LR (MSN 19000625, registration XT-ABI), which has been undergoing maintenance in Johannesburg since July 5, 2025.
The E190 was acquired in September 2024 as part of a fleet renewal strategy that also included plans to secure a second E190. Its grounding has highlighted the operational risk for single-aircraft carriers in the region.
In the interim, Air Burkina has been operating a Boeing 737-300 (MSN 25048, registration 5A-GRR) under a wet lease from Ghadames Airlines of Libya. That aircraft, nearly 34 years old, was inducted into service on July 2, 2025, and is expected to be replaced by the newly requested Boeing 737 under the August lease.
Air Burkina, one of Africa’s oldest surviving carriers, resumed operations in October 2024 following a six-month suspension prompted by operational and financial difficulties. During the hiatus, the airline returned three leased Embraer aircraft (two E195s and one E175) to Nordic Aviation Capital as part of its restructuring process.
Under the leadership of Azakaria Traoré since March 2024, the airline has embarked on a phased recovery, with a focus on stabilizing fleet operations and ensuring route continuity.
Currently, Air Burkina serves several West African cities, including Abidjan, Accra, Bamako, Bobo-Dioulasso, Cotonou,Dakar, Lomé, Niamey, and its home base, Ouagadougou.
While no details have been disclosed about the operator providing the newly leased Boeing 737, the move underscores the fragile operational dynamics faced by smaller African airlines reliant on a minimal fleet.
Air Burkina is expected to provide further updates as the temporary lease comes into effect and maintenance on its grounded aircraft progresses.
