Air Côte d’Ivoire, the national airline of Côte d’Ivoire has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330-900.
The aircraft is the first of two wide-body A330neos ordered in October 2022. Its second aircraft is expected to be delivered in October 2025.
Currently, Air Cote d’Ivoire is serving 22 destinations across Africa, the airline plans to deploy the A330neo on new long-haul routes, starting with Paris before expanding to additional destinations in the Middle East and North America.
The delivery flight from Toulouse to Abidjan carried more than five metric tons of humanitarian cargo, including educational materials and medical supplies.
The initiative, coordinated by the Airbus Foundation with support from Aviation Sans Frontières, marked Air Cote d’Ivoire’s third goodwill flight. The donations were distributed to two local NGOs, LifeShine and La Bienfaisance, which support health and education programs in Abidjan.
“This A330neo is more than just an aircraft; it is the flag carrier of Cote d’Ivoire around the world,” said Gabriel Sémelas, president of Airbus in Africa and the Middle East. “We are proud to know that it will enable the country to launch its long-haul operations.”
The airline’s first widebody aircraft is powered by a Rolls-Royce Trent 7000.
“This is a significant milestone for both the airline and the region, as it expands connectivity and supports the growth of long-haul travel across West Africa,” said Omar Ali Adib, senior vice president, customers at Rolls-Royce.
Air Cote d’Ivoire currently operates a fleet of six Airbus aircraft, comprising one A320neo, two A320ceos and three A319ceos. Looking ahead, the airline has set a goal of expanding its fleet to 20 aircraft by 2030. (Credit: Aviation Week)
