On Wednesday, January 22, 2025, passengers traveling to Mogadishu found themselves stranded after airlines operating in Somalia announced the suspension of both domestic and international flights. This move has affected hundreds of travelers, leaving them caught between conflicting reports about the true cause of the disruption.
The Somali Airlines Operators Association, which represents nearly 20 local airlines, issued a statement attributing the suspension to unresolved disputes with the Somali federal government over recent tax increases. According to the association, the taxes levied on the aviation sector have made operations increasingly difficult for the airlines. They announced that all flights both within Somalia and international routes would cease until a resolution is reached. “Effective Wednesday, January 22, 2025, Somali Airlines has completely suspended all domestic and international flights until a lasting solution is reached,” the statement read.
The decision has had a widespread impact, disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers. Among them were over 200 passengers stranded at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, whose flights to Mogadishu were grounded. The suspension was also felt within Somalia, where multiple domestic flights from Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport were cancelled, leaving travelers seeking alternate routes or postponing their trips altogether.
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) quickly issued its own response, rejecting the claim that tax hikes were responsible for the flight suspensions. Instead, the SCAA provided an alternative explanation, stating that the grounding of flights was due to maintenance issues discovered during routine inspections. According to the SCAA, several domestic aircraft were found to have significant safety concerns that rendered them unfit for flight. “The Civil Aviation Authority conducted inspections of domestic aircraft and found issues that could endanger passenger safety. These aircraft cannot fly until repairs are completed in accordance with the law,” the SCAA stated.
However, the SCAA’s statement did not completely dispel the concerns of airline operators, who pointed out that these maintenance problems were symptomatic of broader challenges in the Somali aviation sector. The SCAA itself raised concerns over poor operational practices, including the practice of booking passengers on other airlines when local carriers’ planes were grounded due to maintenance issues. “Some airlines operate without planes in the capital, booking passengers through other carriers, which has disrupted service to certain regions,” the authority explained.
Further complicating matters, the administration at Aden Adde International Airport, where many of the disrupted flights were originating, instructed the airport’s private operator, Favori, to deny access to airlines without operational aircraft stationed at the airport. This measure was taken to ensure that only those airlines with fully functional planes would be allowed to operate, further tightening the situation for stranded passengers.
The effects of the suspension have been far-reaching, not just in Nairobi but throughout Somalia. Travelers who were hoping to reach various domestic destinations have been left in limbo, with few options available for immediate travel. The uncertainty surrounding when flights will resume is also contributing to heightened frustrations among those who had carefully planned their journeys, only to be thwarted by the aviation standoff.
As of now, it remains unclear how long the flight suspension will last or whether the Somali government and the airline operators will reach a compromise over the tax issues. What is certain, however, is that the passengers affected by these cancellations will continue to experience delays and disruptions until a resolution is found. For now, travelers are advised to stay informed about any further announcements from the airline operators or the Somali Civil Aviation Authority regarding the resumption of services.
