Niger is seeking Morocco’s support in establishing a new national airline as part of broader transport sector cooperation between the two countries, according to Abdessamad Kayouh, Morocco's minister of transport and logistics.
In a social media post, he revealed that this had emerged during a high-level meeting in Rabat on July 16 with Abdourahamane Amadou, Niger’s transport and civil aviation minister, who expressed interest in drawing on Morocco’s expertise in aviation, particularly in the creation of a flag carrier but also for infrastructure development and regulatory governance.
"The Nigerian side expressed its desire to benefit from the Moroccan experience, particularly in the area of establishing a domestic airline," Kayouh disclosed.
Amadou has said that Niger aims to develop an integrated and efficient transport system to address the challenges of its landlocked position.
Kayouh confirmed Morocco's commitment to working towards a "win-win" partnership, offering training, technical assistance, and knowledge transfer.
Morocco’s experience in airport modernisation and its "Atlantic Initiative," launched by King Mohammed VI in 2023, were highlighted as potential avenues for collaboration. The initiative is a strategic plan aimed at providing landlocked Sahel countries such as Mali, Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso with maritime access to the Atlantic Ocean.
"This meeting served as an opportunity to emphasise the common will to consolidate the Moroccan-Nigerian partnership in the fields of transport and logistics," Kayouh said.
Niger announced its intentions to establish a new national airline in February, plus a plan to support the establishment of a common regional airline for member countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (Alliance des États du Sahel - AES), which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The drive towards a common carrier forms part of a broader effort to enhance connectivity and economic ties within the bloc. The plan aims to connect the capitals of the three countries, Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou, to facilitate safer and more efficient cross-border travel.
The previous flag carrier, Niger Airlines (6N, Niamey), was founded in 2012 and started operations in 2014, but it ceased operations in November 2022 after being temporarily grounded by the Nigerien authorities over safety concerns. Its last aircraft, a F50, was sold to Busy Bee Congo (RHT, Goma) in March 2025. A predecessor, Air Niger, operated from 1966 until 1993.
Niger temporarily closed its airspace in August 2023 following a military coup due to fears of intervention by neighbouring countries. It reopened its airspace in September 2023 for commercial flights, except those registered in France, which remain banned due to ongoing political disputes. Air France had planned to resume services to Niger in July but has postponed the resumption to September 2025.
