View source for Air Afrique

{{Short description|Defunct African airline (1961–2002)}}
{{Distinguish|Air Africa|Afriqiyah Airways}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2012}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline          = Air Afrique
| logo             = Air Afrique logo.svg
| logo_size        = 250
| alt              = 
| IATA             = RK
| ICAO             = RKA
| callsign         = AIRAFRIC
| founded          = {{start date|1961|03|28|df=yes}}
| commenced        = {{start date|1961|08|01|df=yes}}
| ceased           = {{end date|2002|01||df=yes}}
| aoc              = 
| bases            = 
| hubs             = [[Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport|Abidjan]]
| secondary_hubs   = [[Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport|Dakar–Yoff]]
| focus_cities     = 
| frequent_flyer   = 
| lounge           = 
| alliance         = 
| subsidiaries     = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Air Burkina]]
  | [[Air Mali (2005)|Air Mali]]
  | [[Air Mauritanie]]}}
| fleet_size       = 
| destinations     = [[Air Afrique destinations|22]] ''(at the time of closure)''
| parent           = 
| headquarters     = [[Abidjan]], [[Ivory Coast]]
| key_people       = Saleh Ahmet Mahamet ([[Chairman of the Board]]) ''(at the time of closure)''<ref name="FI2002-36" />
| revenue          = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income       = 
| profit           = 
| assets           = 
| equity           = 
| website          = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/*/https://www.airafrique.com|airafrique.com}} ''(currently unavailable)''<ref name="FI2002-45"/>{{rp|45}}
}}

'''Air Afrique''' was a [[Pan-Africanism|Pan-African]] airline,<ref name="Air Afrique loses half its fleet"/> that was mainly owned by many [[West Africa]]n countries for most of its history. It was established as the official [[transnationalism|transnational]] [[Air carrier|carrier]] for [[francophone]] [[West Africa|West]] and [[Central Africa]], because many of these countries did not have the capability to create and maintain a [[national airline]],<ref name="Air Afrique finally goes bust"/> and had its headquarters in [[Abidjan]], [[Ivory Coast]].<ref name="Airline with 11 owners"/> The carrier was a member of the [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA) as well as the [[French Union]]'s smaller IATA-like ATAF.<ref name="rk69-1.jpg"/>

Air Afrique began a steady decline in the early 1980s, yet many years later the company was still considered the most reputable carrier in [[West Africa]],<ref name="In Africa, Many National Airlines Fly on a Wing and a Prayer" /> and even one of the top five [[airlines of Africa]]. Mismanagement, corruption, and the downturn in the aviation industry after the [[September 11 attacks|11 September 2001 attacks]] led the airline to a crisis that ended with its liquidation in early 2002.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} Even though there were plans to revive the airline with the creation of a new company,<ref name="Hopes rise for new Air Afrique"/><ref name="New airline for West Africa"/><ref name="Air Afrique wound up"/> they never materialised, as it was succeeded by short-lived [[Afrinat International Airlines]].

==History==

===The early years===
Air Afrique was originally conceived in {{start date|df=yes|1960|2}} as a joint subsidiary of [[Air France]] and [[Union Aéromaritime de Transport]] (UAT) to take over the regional services these airlines had operated in [[Africa]].<ref name="FI1963-508" /> The new company was registered in September 1960 as ''Air Afrique (Société de Transports Aériens en Afrique)''.<ref name="FI1966-933"/>{{rp|933}} During the first conference of Francophone countries that was held in [[Abidjan]] in {{start date|df=yes|1960|10}}, the [[List of heads of state of Ivory Coast|Ivorian president]] [[Félix Houphouët-Boigny|Felix Houphouët Boigny]] recommended the constitution of a multinational airline for these countries. Eleven heads of state that attended to the next conference, held at [[Brazzaville]] in {{MONTHNAME|12}} the same year, agreed to form the company. [[Gambia]], [[Ghana]] and [[Mali]] decided to stay away from the project, as they had plans for setting up their own airlines with aid from the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]s. The formation of the company took place during the third conference, held at [[Yaoundé]] in early 1961: ''Air Afrique (Société de Transports Aériens en Afrique)'' changed its name to ''Société pour le Développement du Transport Aérien en Afrique (SODETRAF)''; the eleven countries and SODETRAF would set up the new airline.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=81}} The ''Treaty of Yaoundé'', signed on {{start date|1961|3|28|df=y}},{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=81}} founded Air Afrique as a [[joint venture]] between Air France and UAT, each of which had a 17% holding,<ref name="FI1963-508"/><ref name="FI1966-933"/>{{rp|933}}<ref name="FI1963-629" /> while the eleven newly independent former [[French colonial empire|French colonies]] in West Africa, namely [[Benin]], [[Burkina Faso]], [[Cameroon]], [[Central African Republic]], [[Chad]], [[Ivory Coast|Côte d'Ivoire]], [[Gabon]], [[Mauritania]], [[Niger]], the [[Republic of the Congo]] and [[Senegal]],<ref name="Troubles Tarnish a Once-Shining African Airline"/> contributed with the remaining 66% of the capital,<ref name="FI1963-508"/> estimated in 500&nbsp;millions of [[CFA franc]]s.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=81}} [[Léopoldine Doualla-Bell Smith]], a flight attendant, was invited to move to Air Afrique in 1960; she was then the only qualified African person in French aviation, and thus became the first employee hired by Air Afrique.<ref name="issuu1">{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/denverurbanspectrum/docs/dus_march_2015/4 |title=Denver Urban Spectrum March 2015 by Denver Urban Spectrum |date=28 February 2015 |publisher=ISSUU |access-date=15 April 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Douglas DC-6B F-BGSN Air Afrique RWY 22.09.63 edited-3.jpg|thumb|right|Air Afrique [[Douglas DC-6]]B at [[Manchester Airport]] in 1963]]
Cheikh Fall was appointed as the first [[CEO]] of the company on {{start date|1961|6|25|df=yes}}.<ref name="Cheikh Fall, premier PDG d'Air Afrique"/> It started operations on {{start date|1961|8|1|df=yes}} serving internal routes with 12 leased [[DC-4]]s from Air France and UAT.<ref name="FI1966-933"/>{{rp|933}}<ref name="FI2000-57" /> On {{start date|1961|10|15|df=yes}}, an Air France [[Lockheed Constellation]] that flew the [[Paris]]–[[Port Etienne]]–[[Dakar]]–Abidjan–[[Cotonou]]–[[Douala]] route on behalf of the company inaugurated the [[long-haul]] operations.<ref name="FI1966-933"/>{{rp|933}} Pressurised Douglas DC-6 aircraft were added to the fleet in the early 1960s, also leased from UAT.<ref name="FI1962-551/2" />{{rp|552}} On {{start date|1962|1|5|df=yes}}, the carrier deployed [[Boeing 707]]s, [[Aircraft lease|lease]]d from Air France, on the Paris–Dakar–Abidjan and the Paris–Douala–[[Brazzaville]] runs; these were the first [[jet aircraft]] introduced on the carrier's intercontinental routes.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Air Afrique Jet Services |journal=[[Flight International]] |date=1 February 1962 |page=162 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1962/1962%20-%200160.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105170815/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1962/1962%20-%200160.html |archive-date=5 November 2012 |access-date=20 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Two [[DC-8]]s were the first jets ordered by the airline in {{MONTHNAME|12}} the same year.<ref name="FI1966-933"/>{{rp|933}} Also in 1962, the carrier became a member of the International Air Transport Association.<ref>{{cite journal|title=IATA Membership Changes|journal= Flight International|pages=999|date=28 June 1962|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1962/1962%20-%201001.html|access-date=1 May 2011|quote=Air Afrique has now joined IATA, becoming the 15th African airline to do so.}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable toccolours floatleft" style="font-size:85%;"
|+Air Afrique founder/shareholder countries
|-
!Country
!From
!To
|-
|{{BEN}} || 1961||2002
|-
|{{BFA}} || 1961||2002
|-
|{{CMR}} || 1961||1971<ref name="FI1985-38/40" />{{rp|39}}
|-
|{{CAF}} || 1961||2002
|-
|{{TCD}} || 1961||2002
|-
|{{CIV}} || 1961||2002
|-
|{{GAB}} || 1961||1976<ref name="FI1985-38/40" />{{rp|39}}{{#tag:ref|The year for the withdrawal of Gabon was also informed to be 1977.<ref name="FI1978-1125" />{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=84}}|group="nb"|name="Gabon"}}
|-
|{{MLI}} ||{{dunno}}||2002
|-
|{{MTN}} || 1961||2002
|-
|{{NER}} || 1961||2002
|-
|{{COG}} || 1961||2002
|-
|{{SEN}} || 1961||2002
|-
|{{SLE}} || 1978<ref name="FI1979-1331" />||{{dunno}}
|-
|{{TGO}} || 1965<ref name="FI1969-553" />||2002
|}
In {{start date|df=yes|1963|1}}, Cheikh Fall was appointed general manager of the company.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=81}} [[Union de Transports Aériens]] (UTA) was formed in {{start date|df=yes|1963|10}} from the [[merger]] of UAT and [[Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux]] (TAI).<ref name="FI1963-636" /> Following this, Air Afrique ownership was reorganised, with SODETRAF acquiring a 28% stake and the balance being held by the member states.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=81}}{{#tag:ref|SODETRAF was 75%-owned by UTA, while the remaining stake was held by Air France; this resulted in SODETRAF acquiring a 28% stake in the airline under a 15-year agreement, whereas the remaining 72% was held by the member states.<ref name="FI1975-177"/>|group="nb"}} The first DC-8 was delivered in {{start date|df=yes|1963|10}}, and entered service a month later;{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=81–82}} the second aircraft of the type was handed over in {{MONTHNAME|1}} the next year, being deployed on the route to [[Marseille]] late that month.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=82}} Air Afrique became the owner of its entire fleet in {{start date|df=yes|1963|11}}, following an agreement with UTA.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=82}} Also in 1963, [[Hajj]] flights, carrying pilgrims to [[Mecca]], commenced using the [[Lockheed L-1649 Starliner|Starliner]] aircraft.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=83}} In {{start date|df=yes|1964|4}}, Air Afrique was authorised to connect several African countries with the [[United States]] and in {{MONTHNAME|11}}, the Paris–Abidjan run started calling at [[Geneva]] on a weekly basis.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=82}}

By {{start date|df=yes|1965|4}}, Air Afrique had 2,500 employees. At this time, there were two DC-8-50s in service, along with three DC-4s and four DC-6s.<ref name="FI1965-565" /> That month, the route to Paris, already stopping at Dakar and Geneva, began calling at [[Roberts International Airport|Robertsfield]]. A month later, Air Afrique passengers started flying to the [[United States]] allocated on [[Pan Am]] flights. Also in 1965, the company ordered two [[Sud Aviation Caravelle|Caravelle]]s; a third DC-8, a convertible (DC-8F) one that would be used to increase cargo capacity, was ordered in {{MONTHNAME|7}}. In 1966, the DC-8F entered the fleet and the carrier started withdrawing the DC-6s from service.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=82}} [[Togo]] became the {{ordinal|12}} state in joining the [[consortium]] in 1965,<ref name="FI1969-553" /> but it was not until 1968 that this country held a participation in the carrier.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=82}} By the mid-1960s, the carrier took over the Air France and UTA [[Aircraft maintenance|maintenance]] facilities located at [[Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport|Dakar-Yoff Airport]]. There, the company carried out the maintenance for its aircraft (excluding the jet fleet) and also undertook maintenance works for foreign carriers, including [[Air Mauritanie]] and [[Air Senegal]], and even for air forces of neighbour countries. Another maintenance centre was located at [[Douala Airport]]. However, major maintenance works were provided by UAT at Le Bourget Airport.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=83}}

Air Afrique received two [[Caravelle 11R]]s, a mixed passenger-cargo version of the [[Caravelle 10R]],<ref>{{cite journal|title=Convertible Caravelle airborne |journal=[[Flight International]] |date=11 May 1967 |page=735 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1967/1967%20-%200753.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012065045/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1967/1967%20-%200753.html |archive-date=12 October 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref> in {{start date|df=yes|1967|9}}.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Air transport |journal=[[Flight International]] |date=12 October 1967 |page=593 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1967/1967%20-%201997.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012082907/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1967/1967%20-%201997.html |archive-date=12 October 2013 |quote=One of Air Afrique's newly delivered Sud Caravelle 11Rs, TU-TCY, on the [[Airport apron|apron]] at Abidjan during its positioning flight to Yaoundé, Cameroons{{sic}}, where it is now based. The airline's second 11R, TU-TCO, is based at Dakar. Both these Passenger - cargo Caravelle variants were flown out from Toulouse to Dakar via Casablanca on 22 September. |url-status=live  }}</ref> Two DC-4s were sold at the time in order for the company to afford the costs of these new aircraft. The Caravelles were deployed on African routes, replacing the DC-6s. In 1968, another DC-8-50 joined the fleet. By then, the route network included 22 African countries, along with [[Bordeaux]], [[Lyon]], Marseille, [[Nice]] and Paris in France, Geneva in [[Switzerland]] and New York in the United States (in agreement with Pan Am).{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=83}}

===The 1970s===
[[File:Air Afrique Caravelle 10B1R TU-TXQ LBG 1977-06-11.png|thumb|An Air Afrique [[Sud-Aviation Caravelle|Caravelle]] standing at [[Le Bourget Airport]] in 1977. A third aircraft of the type was delivered in 1971.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=83}}]]
The company ordered two [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30]]s in {{start date|df=yes|1970|2}}, boosting the order with one more aircraft of the type the same year.<ref name="FI1970-225" /> Amid increasing tourism in Africa, in {{MONTHNAME|3}} the same year the airline acquired a 51% stake in ''Société de Développement Hôtelier & Touristique en Afrique d l'Ouest''; Air Afrique also held interests in tourist agencies.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=83}} At {{MONTHNAME|4}} the same year, the number of employees was 3,370 and the aircraft park stood at three DC-8s, one DC-8F, two Caravelle 11Rs, one DC-3 and four DC-4s.<ref name="FI1970-467" /> In {{start date|df=yes|1970|12}}, a [[Douglas DC-8-63CF|DC-8-63CF]] entered the fleet and two [[NAMC YS-11A]]s were purchased; these [[turboprop]] airliners were transferred to [[Air Ivoire]] in 1972. Air Afrique started flights to [[New York City|New York]] in its own right in {{start date|df=yes|1971|1}}, using DC-8-63 aircraft.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=83}} In {{MONTHNAME|8}} the same year, [[List of heads of state of the Central African Republic and Central African Empire|Central African Republic's president]] [[Jean Bedel Bokassa]] stated that his country would leave the consortium to form their own airline, [[Air Centrafrique]]; the withdrawal plans were shelved. Shortly afterwards, [[List of heads of state of Cameroon|Cameroon's president]] [[Ahmadou Ahidjo]] was discontented with the airline both for the lack of [[Cameroon]]ians in top management positions and for the location of the head office in Abidjan, as [[Douala]] was the city with the highest traffic among the points served by the carrier in Africa at the time, and Ahidjo believed the head office should be located there.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=83}} In {{MONTHNAME|9}}, Cameroon withdrew its support from the consortium to run their own [[national carrier]], [[Cameroon Airlines]],<ref name="FI1985-38/40" />{{rp|39}} which had been founded on {{start date|1971|7|26|df=y}}.<ref name="FI1975-479" /> Ownership was reorganised following the Cameroon breakaway, with the remaining shareholder countries participating with 6.18% each and SODETRAF keeping a 28%.<ref name="FI1977-920" />

[[File:Air Afrique DC-8-33 TU-TCD LFSB 1978-06-29.png|thumb|left|A [[Douglas DC-8#Series 30|Douglas DC-8-30]] at [[Euroairport]] in 1978. The DC-8 entered the fleet in 1963.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=81}}]]
During 1971, a third Caravelle was incorporated into the fleet,{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=83}} and the regional headquarters for [[Central Africa]] were moved from [[Douala]], Cameroon to [[Libreville]] in [[Gabon]].<ref name="FI1973-433"/> The move angered [[Chad]]ian president [[François Tombalbaye]], who also threatened to withdraw support to the [[multinational enterprise]] in 1972, something that finally did not occur. The carrier joined the Air France reservation system in 1973. The first [[wide-body aircraft|wide-bodied]] [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10|DC-10-30]], named ″Libreville″, was delivered on {{start date|1973|2|28|df=yes}}, arriving in Dakar on 2 March. Starting 13 March, the type replaced the DC-8s on the Paris–[[Bordeaux]]–[[Nouakchott]]–Dakar, Paris–Dakar–[[Abidjan]], Paris–[[Fort Lamy]]–[[Bangui]]–[[Brazzaville]], Paris–[[Marseille]]–[[Niamey]]–[[Cotonou]]–Abidjan routes in a gradual manner.
<ref>{{cite web|title=Air Afrique Timetable|url=http://timetableimages.com/ttimages/rk/rk73/rk73-01.jpg|website=TimeTabelImages|access-date=31 December 2021}}</ref> Late in 1973, a fourth Caravelle was acquired from [[Royal Jordanian Airlines]] and a Douglas DC-8-55F entered the fleet.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=83}} Cheikh Fall was succeeded by Aoussou Koffi at the head of the company in 1974.<ref name="Cheikh Fall, premier PDG d'Air Afrique"/>

At {{start date|df=yes|1975|3}}, the workforce had grown to 3,726 and the carrier's fleet comprised three Caravelles (one 10R and two 11Rs), one DC-3, five DC-8s (one DC-8-63CF, one [[Douglas DC-8#Series 30|DC-8-30]] and three [[Douglas DC-8#Series 50|DC-8-50]]s) and a DC-10-30.<ref name="FI1975-464"/> In {{MONTHNAME|8}}, a third DC-8-55F was purchased. The second DC-10-30, ″Cotonou″, joined the fleet in 1976; prior to incorporation, the aircraft had been delivered in {{start date|df=yes|1975|6}} and leased to [[Thai Airways International]].{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=84}} In 1976,{{refn|group="nb"|name="Gabon"}} Gabon left the consortium and formed [[Air Gabon]];<ref name="FI1985-38/40" />{{rp|39}} [[Sierra Leone]] was incorporated in 1978.<ref name="FI1979-1331" /> A third DC-10-30 was ordered in 1977 and a [[Boeing 747-200C]] in 1978.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=84}} In 1979, the company placed an order with Airbus for one [[Airbus A300#A300B4|Airbus A300B4]], intended to fly the Dakar–Paris route, and two [[Airbus A310]]s;<ref name="FI1979-1448" /> the order was later homogenised to include three A300B4s.<ref name="FI1981-1163"/> A [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747F]] was also ordered that year.<ref name="FI1979-1226" />

===The 1980s===
[[File:Air Afrique DC-10-30 TU-TAM CDG 1980-8-14.png|thumb|A McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport in 1980. The airline received the first aircraft of the type in 1973.<ref name="FI1973-668"/> With [[Aircraft registration|registration]] TU-TAM and named ″Cotonou″, this particular aircraft was the second DC-10-30 the company received, in 1976.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=84}}]]
In {{start date|df=yes|1980|7}} the airline had 5,100 employees and a fleet that comprised a pair of [[Caravelle 10R]]s, three [[Douglas DC-8|DC-8-50]]s, two [[Douglas DC-8|DC-8-50F]]s, one [[Douglas DC-8-63|DC-8-63]] and three [[DC-10-30]]s that served 22 African nations and intercontinental routes to [[Bordeaux]], [[Geneva]], [[Lyon]], [[Marseille]], [[Nice]], [[New York City|New York]], [[Paris]], [[Rome]] and [[Zürich]]. Three aircraft (an [[Airbus A300|Airbus A300B4]], an [[Airbus A310]] and a [[Boeing 747-200F]]) were on order.<ref name="FI1980-271" /> A DC-8-55F was sold in 1981 ahead of the incorporation of new aircraft; that year, three Airbus A300s, a Boeing 747-200C and the third DC-10-30 named ''Niamey'' joined the fleet. The airline had to sell three Caravelles and two DC-8-63s to counter the financial difficulties that arose from the decline of passengers carried in 1983. On 1 March 1984, a Boeing 747-200F was leased to [[National Airlines (1983)|National Airlines]], which in turn sub-leased the aircraft to [[Saudi Arabian Airlines]]. Business class was introduced on most of the aircraft during 1984.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=84}}

[[File:Air Afrique Airbus A300B4-203 TU-TAO GVA 1982-5-20.png|thumb|left|An Air Afrique [[Airbus A300B4-200]] just departed from [[Geneva International Airport]] in 1982. The type was first ordered in 1979.<ref name="FI1979-1448"/>]]

The carrier began a steep decline during the decade, just after the ″Africanisation″ of the airline, i.e. Africans holding all top positions, was completed. Since that time, overbooked flights became frequent, tickets reserved for the member states were never paid, and schedules were missed to such an extent that some flights arrived half a day later or even departed ahead of schedule without any explanation.<ref name="Troubles Tarnish a Once-Shining African Airline"/> Losses mounted to [[French franc|FRF]]&nbsp;68&nbsp;million and FRF&nbsp;6,8&nbsp;million for 1983 and 1984, respectively; by contrast, the carrier made an FRF&nbsp;17.6&nbsp;million ({{US$|2.47}}&nbsp;million) profit during 1985. The number of passengers carried that year was 757,000, a 9.5% increase from the previous year.<ref name="FI1986-8" /> Largely due to the acquisition of new aircraft or wet-leasing planes from other companies, at early 1985 the carrier had a total debt of {{US$|250}}&nbsp;million, with approximately a fifth of this amount being unpaid contributions from the member states. [[Director-general]] Koffi Aoussou also attributed the losses to the rise in fuel prices (Air Afrique spent {{US$|35}}&nbsp;million in fuel in 1978 and almost {{US$|63}}&nbsp;million in 1984), to overstaffing, to the increase in competition (mainly from [[Union de Transports Aeriens|UTA]] in the European routes), and to poor performance of the member countries' economies.<ref name="FI1985-7" />

[[File:Boeing B727-200 YU-AKL Air Afrique F229-18.jpg|thumb|A Boeing B727-200, leased from JAT, at Dakar-Yoff Airport in 1984]]
During 1985, Auxence Ickonga, former head of the [[Republic of the Congo|Congo]]lese state-owned oil company [[Hydrocongo]], succeeded [[Ivory Coast|Ivorian]] Aoussou Koffi as [[president (corporate title)|president]] and [[director general]] of the airline with plans to reduce salaries, shrink the 5,600-strong staff by 515, and to sell a Boeing 747 for {{US$|60}}&nbsp;million in order to make the company economically viable.<ref name="FI1985-7-27-7" /> By {{start date|df=yes|1986|7}}, the debt-to-equity ratio was 8:1, with obligations rising to FRF&nbsp;1,800&nbsp;million. At the same time, the fleet comprised three [[Airbus A300|A300]]s, two [[Boeing 727]]s (one chartered from Air France and the other from [[Jat Airways|JAT]]), two [[DC-8]]s and three [[DC-10]]s; the [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747 cargo]] that Ickonga intended to sell to alleviate the financial crisis was acquired by [[Korean Air Lines]] for {{US$|60}}&nbsp;million.<ref name="FI1986-8" />

By the late 1980s, Air Afrique had accumulated debts for over 200&nbsp;billion [[CFA franc]]s.<ref name="Africa: Air Afrique Hands Over Four Airbuses To Creditors" /> The consortium members (Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo)<ref name="FI1989-12" /> sought assistance from France.<ref name="Troubles Tarnish a Once-Shining African Airline"/> On 2 March 1989,<ref name="FI1990-15" /> Rolland Billecart —a high-ranking official of the [[French government]]<ref name="Troubles Tarnish a Once-Shining African Airline"/>— entered the company,<ref name="Africa: Air Afrique Hands Over Four Airbuses To Creditors" /> becoming the first non-African chairman and CEO of Air Afrique with plans to keep the company afloat that included the reduction of the workforce by 2,000.<ref name="FI1989-12" /> The company carried 710,498 passengers in 1988 and recorded an FRF&nbsp;288&nbsp;million net loss for the year, whereas an FRF&nbsp;7.3&nbsp;million ({{US$|1.3}}&nbsp;million) net profit was posted the following year, with 754,314 passengers carried.<ref name="FI1990-15" /> The workforce was cut by 1,600 in June 1989. The new management lobbied to restrict foreign airlines to serve the member countries in order for Air Afrique to take advantage of this situation.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=84}} [[Agadez]] was made part of the route network in the fall of 1989. For a short period of time starting in late 1989, a 302-seater [[Lockheed L-1011]], a 137-seater [[Boeing 737]] and a Boeing 707 Freighter were leased from [[American Trans Air]], [[Aeromaritime]] and [[Naganagani]], respectively, in order to supplement the fleet.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=85}}

===The 1990s===
[[File:Air Afrique A310 TU-TAC CDG 1991-8-4.png|thumb|An Air Afrique [[Airbus A310-300]] at [[Charles de Gaulle Airport]] in 1991. That year the carrier received the first aircraft of the type.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=85}}]]
At {{start date|df=yes|1990|3}} the fleet consisted of three Airbus A300B4, one McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63F and three DC-10-30.<ref name="FI1990-48/49" />{{rp|49}} In mid-1990, an order was placed with [[Airbus]] for four [[Airbus A310-300]]s plus four more options, with deliveries starting in mid-1992.<ref name="FI1990-17" /> In 1990 Air France became UTA's controlling shareholder.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Gilbert|last=Sedbon|date=2–8 October 1991|title=Air France plans UTA break down|journal=Flight International|pages=4|access-date=30 March 2011|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1991/1991%20-%202546.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first=Gilbert|last=Sedbon|date=24–30 January 1990|title=UTA take-over makes Air France Europe's second-favourite airline|journal=Flight International|pages=10|access-date=30 March 2011|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%200144.html}}</ref> This resulted in UTA's stake in Air Afrique passing into Air France's hands.

The first [[Airbus A310-304]] entered the fleet in 1991.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=85}} In 1994 the fleet comprised 12 aircraft and the carrier had more than 4,200 employees.<ref>{{cite news|title=Airline Business 100 - 1994|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/1994/09/01/40789/airline-business-100-1994.html|agency=[[Airline Business]]|newspaper=Flightglobal.com|date=1 September 1994|access-date=9 March 2011}}</ref> Cash position dramatically worsened that year after a 50% devaluation of the CFA franc, a situation that led to the seizure of one fourth of the fleet, due to debt defaults, in the forthcoming years.<ref name="Air Afrique peut-elle redécoller?"/><ref name="Air Afrique in crisis again"/><ref name="A310 seizure forces Afrique suspension"/> Subsequently, the already indebted company had to lease in order to revert the lack of aircraft.<ref name="Airline with 11 owners"/><ref name="Air Afrique in crisis again"/> It nevertheless suspended,<ref name="FI2000-57"/> or reduced the frequency on some routes,<ref name="West African optimist" /> and [[Codeshare agreement|codeshared]] others.<ref name="Turn off the TAP"/> During 1995, the airline transported 761,000 passengers, losing {{US$|19000000|1995|link=yes}}.<ref name="Revenue and Hope Ebb at West Africa's Airline" /> Also in 1995, [[DHL Aviation|DHL]] started participating into the airline.<ref name="DHL invests"/> One DC-10-30 was sold to [[AOM French Airlines]] in February 1996.{{sfnp|Guttery|1998|p=85}}

Billecart left Air Afrique in 1997 and was succeeded by Sir Harry Tirvangadum, a [[Mauritius|Mauritian]] national, as Director General.<ref name="Africa: Air Afrique on the Path of Recovery" /> Billecart's management was plagued of accusations. He claimed he failed to restructure the company due to the excessive interference from the governments that owned it, whereas employees accused him of worsening Air Afrique's financial position by acquiring four Airbus A310-300s. Tirvangadum reduced the debts to just 31&nbsp;billion CFA francs. From all the member states, only Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Senegal provided their quota from a total of 20&nbsp;billion CFA francs that were necessary to alleviate the financial difficulties of the carrier at that time.<ref name="Africa: Air Afrique Hands Over Four Airbuses To Creditors" /> During Tirvangandum's mandate, Air Afrique entered a partnership with the [[World Bank]],<ref name="Africa: Air Afrique in Partnership With World Bank" /> which aimed operations to be restricted to Africa.<ref name="Africa: Air Afrique Hands Over Four Airbuses To Creditors" /> In {{start date|df=yes|1998|7}}, the carrier reduced its fleet from 15 to 11 when four Airbus A310-300s were returned to the creditors.<ref name="Africa: Air Afrique Hands Over Four Airbuses To Creditors" /> Late that year, debts rose to about {{US$|300000000|1998}}.<ref name="West African optimist"/> By that time, eleven countries on the [[CFA franc|CFA]] zone were the major shareholders of the airline (70.4%), African and French investors had a participation of 13.7%, Air France had a 12.2% stake, and DHL owned 3.2%.<ref name="West African optimist"/>

===The final years===
[[File:Air Afrique (Air Sofia) AN12 LZ-SFK (6736057029).jpg|thumb|left|An Air Afrique An-12 wearing a hybrid Air Afrique/Air Sofia livery.]]
{{As of|2000|4|alt= At April 2000}}, the carrier had 4,440 employees, the fleet comprised one [[Antonov An-12]], two [[Airbus A300-600R]]s, three [[Airbus A300B4-200]]s, two [[Airbus A310-300]]s, two [[Boeing 707-320C]]s, five [[Boeing 737-300]]s and a [[Boeing 767-300ER]], whereas two [[Airbus A330-200]]s were on order. At the same time, the route network included [[Abidjan]], [[Abu Dhabi]], [[Accra]], [[Athens]], [[Bamako]], [[Bangui]], [[Banjul]], [[Beirut]], [[Bissau]], [[Bordeaux]], [[Brazzaville]], [[Casablanca]], [[Conakry]], [[Cotonou]], [[Dakar]], [[Douala]], [[Geneva]], [[Jeddah]], [[Johannesburg]], [[Lagos]], [[Libreville]], [[Lisbon]], [[Lomé]], [[Malabo]], [[Marseille]], [[Monrovia]], [[Nairobi]], [[N'Djamena]], [[New York City|New York]], [[Niamey]], [[Nouakchott]], [[Ouagadougou]], Paris, [[Pointe-Noire]], [[Rome]] and [[Zürich]].<ref name="FI2000-57" /> In {{start date|df=yes|2001|1}}, Jeffrey Erickson, former CEO of [[Trans World Airlines]], attempted to re-structure the heavily indebted carrier, backed by both a consultancy and a [[World Bank]] grant, setting up a 14-month privatization plan.<ref name="Crisis managers set to rescue debt-laden Air Afrique"/> At that time schedules were commonly missed as the airline was suffering a lack of aircraft.<ref name="Crisis managers set to rescue debt-laden Air Afrique"/> By {{start date|df=yes|2001|6}}, Air Afrique still ranked among the top five [[Airlines of Africa|African airlines]] alongside [[EgyptAir]], [[Kenya Airways]], [[Royal Air Maroc]] and [[South African Airways]] but debts had risen to {{US$|431000000|2001}}.<ref name="Air Afrique's mayday call"/> Later that year, the airline appealed to the French carrier Air France –still a minor shareholder in Air Afrique– for negotiation capacity.<ref name="Air Afrique appeals to Air France"/> Air France became the major shareholder of the company when its holding was raised to 35% after a cash injection.<ref name="Air France to up stake in ailing Air Afrique"/> The eleven African Governments reduced its participation in Air Afrique to 22%, 5% belonged to the employees, and the remaining stake were owned by other investors.<ref name="Air France to up stake in ailing Air Afrique"/> The plan Air France had in mind was to close down Air Afrique and set up a new airline using the same name.<ref name="Air Afrique est en bout de piste"/><ref name="Air Afrique rescue bid"/> Despite this, Air Afrique went out of business in {{start date|df=yes|2002|1}},<ref name="Wanted: An Airline For All of Africa" /> in the wake of the downturn in the aviation industry created by the [[September 11 attacks|2001-09-11 attacks]], and was never revived.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} Less than a year earlier the company had about 4,600 employees to service a fleet of just six planes;<ref name="Air Afrique est en bout de piste"/> at the time of closure, it had one leased operative aircraft,<ref name="FI2002-36"/><ref name="Air Afrique finally goes bust"/><ref name="Hopes rise for new Air Afrique"/> and partly owned [[Air Burkina]] (17%), [[Air Mali (2005)|Air Mali]] (11.5%) and [[Air Mauritanie]] (32%).<ref name="FI2002-45"/>{{rp|45}} The carrier was declared bankrupt on {{end date|2002|2|7|df=y}}.<ref name="FI2002-36" /><ref name="Wanted: An Airline For All of Africa" /><ref name="Kenya Airways targets Tanzania" /> Air France took over most of Air Afrique routes.<ref name="A striking end for Air Afrique"/>

==Destinations==
{{Main|Air Afrique destinations}}
At its heyday, the airline operated an extensive network within Central and Western Africa, as well as flights to Europe and North America. The scheduled network at the time of closure comprised 22 destinations: Abidjan, [[Athens]], [[Bamako]], [[Bangui]], [[Banjul]], [[Brazzaville]], [[Casablanca]], Cotonou, Dakar, Douala, Geneva, [[Libreville]], [[Lomé]], Marseille, [[N'Djamena]], [[New York City|New York]], [[Niamey]], [[Nouakchott]], [[Ouagadougou]], Paris, [[Pointe-Noire]], and [[Rome]].<ref name="FI2002-45"/>{{rp|46}}

== Fleet ==
<!--[[File:Air Afrique DC-10-30 TU-TAL CDG Jun 1993.png|thumb|An Air Afrique [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30]] at [[Charles de Gaulle Airport]] in 1993.]]
[[File:Air Afrique Boeing 737-300 Wallner.jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-300]] at [[Zürich Airport]]. (1997)]]}
[[File:TU-TAT CDG 2002.png|thumb|An [[Airbus A300B4-200]] at Charles de Gaulle Airport. (1992)]]-->
[[File:Air Afrique DC-8-63CF TU-TCF CDG 1980-09-28.png|thumb|An Air Afrique [[Douglas DC-8#Super sixties|Douglas DC-8-63CF]] at [[Charles de Gaulle Airport]] in 1980.]]
The airline historically operated a wide variety of aircraft:<ref name="Airline with 11 owners"/><ref name="Air Afrique takes first Airbus A330-200 on lease for fleet upgrade"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aerotransport.org/php/go.php?query=operator&qstring=&where=56599&orderby=&luck=1|title=Air Afrique Historical Fleet|publisher=AeroTransport Data Bank|date=9 March 2011|access-date=9 March 2011}}</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Airbus A300#A300B2|Airbus A300B2]]
*[[Airbus A300#A300B4|Airbus A300B4-200]]<ref name="FI2000-57"/>
*[[Airbus A300#A300-600|Airbus A300-600R]]<ref name="FI2000-57"/>
*[[Airbus A310|Airbus A310-300]]<ref name="FI2000-57"/>
*[[Airbus A330|Airbus A330-200]]<ref name="FI2000-57"/>
*[[Antonov An-12]]<ref name="FI2000-57"/>
*[[Boeing 707|Boeing 707-320]]
*[[Boeing 707|Boeing 707-320C]]<ref name="FI2000-57"/>
*[[Boeing 727|Boeing 727-200]]
*[[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]]
*[[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200 Cargo]]
*[[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-300]]<ref name="FI2000-57"/>
*[[Boeing 747-100]]
*[[Boeing 747-200]]
*[[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-200F]]
*[[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-300ER]]<ref name="FI2000-57"/>
*[[Sud Aviation Caravelle#Variants|Caravelle 10R]]<ref name="FI1976">{{cite journal|title=World Airline Directory – Air Afrique (Société Aérienne Africaine Multinationale)|journal=Flight International|pages=900|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1976/1976%20-%200598.html|date=10 April 1976|access-date=30 March 2011}}</ref>
*[[Sud Aviation Caravelle#Variants|Caravelle 11R]]<ref name="FI1976"/><ref name="FI1970">{{cite journal|title=World Airline Directory – Air Afrique (Société Aérienne Africaine Multinationale)|journal=Flight International|pages=467|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1970/1970%20-%200517.html|date=26 March 1970|access-date=30 March 2011}}</ref>
*[[Convair 990]]
*[[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]]
*[[Douglas DC-3]]<ref name="FI1970"/>
*[[Douglas DC-4]]<ref name="FI1970"/>
*[[Douglas DC-6]]
*[[Douglas DC-8#Variants|Douglas DC-8-30]]<ref name="FI1976"/>
*[[Douglas DC-8#Variants|Douglas DC-8-50]]<ref name="FI1976"/>
*[[Douglas DC-8#Variants|Douglas DC-8-50F]]<ref name="FI1976"/>
*[[Douglas DC-8#Super sixties|Douglas DC-8-63CF]]<ref name="FI1976"/>
*[[Hawker Siddeley HS 748]]
*Lockheed Constellation
*[[Lockheed Starliner]]
*[[Lockheed L-1011 TriStar]]
*[[McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30]]<ref name="FI1976"/>
*[[McDonnell Douglas MD-11]]
*[[McDonnell Douglas MD-81]]
*[[NAMC YS-11]]
{{div col end}}

==Accidents and incidents==
According to [[Aviation Safety Network]], Air Afrique experienced seven accidents/incidents; only two of them led to fatalities.<ref>{{cite web|title= Accident record for Air Afrique|url= https://asn.flightsafety.org/database/operators/6726|publisher= Aviation Safety Network|date= 22 July 2011|access-date= 22 July 2011}}</ref>

===Accidents involving fatalities===
*1963-5-3: The first [[hull-loss]] accident experienced by the company, as well as the deadliest one, occurred when a [[Douglas DC-6|Douglas DC-6B]], [[Aircraft registration|registration]] F-BIAO, operating an international scheduled [[Douala International Airport]]–[[Murtala Muhammed International Airport|Lagos-Ikeja International Airport]] flight, crashed into [[Mt. Cameroon]] when flying at too low altitude on a prohibited route. There were 55 fatalities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/333100|title=ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-6B F-BIAO Mt. Cameroon|date=10 March 2011|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=10 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Air Afrique Accident|journal=Flight International|date=9 May 1963|pages=665|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%200693.html|access-date=1 May 2011|quote=An Air Afrique DC-6 crashed some minutes after taking off from Douala for Lagos on May 4. Of the 48 passengers and seven crew on board, there were hopes that two passengers might have survived.}}</ref>

===Incidents involving fatalities===
*1987-7-24: A McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 operating [[Air Afrique Flight 056|Flight 56]],<ref>{{ASN accident|type= Air Afrique Hijacking|id= 19870724-0|accessdate= 22 July 2011}}</ref> an international scheduled Brazzaville–Rome–Paris service was [[Aircraft hijacking|hijack]]ed while flying over [[Milan]] by a [[Shia Islam|Shiite]], [[Lebanon|Lebanese]], 21-year-old man named Hussein Ali Mohammed Hariri, member of the [[Hezbollah|Party of God]].<ref name="Swiss Give Life Term To a Lebanese Man in a Fatal Hijacking"/><ref name="Swiss Fear Terrorism After Hijack Capture"/><ref name="Lebanese Hijacker Captured After Killing Passenger"/> There were 148 passengers (64 of them [[French people|French]]) and 15 crew members on board.<ref name="Lebanese Hijacker Captured After Killing Passenger"/> The hijacker demanded the release of two of his brothers imprisoned on [[terrorism]] charges in [[West Germany]], one of whom was accused of hijacking the [[TWA Flight 847]] in 1985, and also to be flown to [[Beirut]].<ref name="Swiss Fear Terrorism After Hijack Capture"/><ref name="Lebanese Hijacker Captured After Killing Passenger"/> While refuelling at [[Geneva International Airport]], a French passenger was shot to death by Hariri,<ref name="Swiss Fear Terrorism After Hijack Capture"/><ref name="Lebanese Hijacker Captured After Killing Passenger"/> as a sign of his determination after his demands were not met. During a moment of distraction, some of the passengers on board managed to escape from the jetliner using the rear doors; a [[flight attendant|steward]] that jumped on Hariri was shot and injured by him.<ref name="Swiss Give Life Term To a Lebanese Man in a Fatal Hijacking"/><ref name="Swiss Fear Terrorism After Hijack Capture"/><ref name="Lebanese Hijacker Captured After Killing Passenger"/> After a standoff the aircraft was stormed by the [[Swiss police]] and the hijacker was overpowered.<ref name="Swiss Give Life Term To a Lebanese Man in a Fatal Hijacking"/>

===Non-fatal hull-losses===
*1971-2-28: A [[Douglas C-54 Skymaster#Variants|Douglas C-54A-DO]], [[Aircraft registration|tail number]] TT-DAA, that operated a freighter service, crashed into the ground ahead of the runway on final approach to [[Sarh Airport|Fort Archambault Airport]], Chad, when the pilot misinterpreted the actual height of the aircraft.<ref>{{ASN accident|title= TT-DAA|accessdate= 23 July 2011|id= 19710228-0}}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Balafon]]'' was the name of the [[in-flight magazine]]<ref>{{cite news | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/25/style/air-afrique-magazine-bottega-veneta/index.html | title=Why this in-flight magazine is the fashion industry's new must-read | newspaper=CNN | date=25 June 2023 }}</ref>
* [[Airlines of Africa]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group="nb"}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Africa: Air Afrique Hands Over Four Airbuses To Creditors">{{cite news|last=Dzisah |first=Melvin |title=Africa: Air Afrique Hands Over Four Airbuses To Creditors |agency=Panafrican News Agency |work=[[AllAfrica.com]] |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/199807070016.html |date=7 July 1998 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526212807/https://www.webcitation.org/6Ka7nKMTS?url=http://allafrica.com/stories/199807070016.html |archive-date=26 May 2024 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="Africa: Air Afrique in Partnership With World Bank">{{cite news|title=Africa: Air Afrique in Partnership With World Bank |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/199806160003.html |date=16 July 1998 |agency=Panafrican News Agency |work=[[AllAfrica.com]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526212850/https://www.webcitation.org/6KaCE8EHh?url=http://allafrica.com/stories/199806160003.html |archive-date=26 May 2024 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Africa: Air Afrique on the Path of Recovery">{{cite news|last=Coulibaly |first=Aly |title=Africa: Air Afrique on the Path of Recovery |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/199806180024.html |work=[[AllAfrica.com]] |date=18 June 2013 |agency=Panafrican News Agency |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526212928/https://www.webcitation.org/6KaCuKsAh?url=http://allafrica.com/stories/199806180024.html |archive-date=26 May 2024 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Airline with 11 owners">{{cite news|title=Airline with 11 owners |agency=[[Flight International]] |publisher=[[Flightglobal]] |date=19 June 2001 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airline-with-11-owners-131799/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123041456/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airline-with-11-owners-131799/ |archive-date=23 January 2013 |access-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="Air Afrique appeals to Air France">{{cite news|title=Air Afrique appeals to Air France |first=Simon |last=Warburton |location=Paris |agency=[[Flight International]] |publisher=[[Flightglobal]] |date=19 June 2001 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-afrique-appeals-to-air-france-131798/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104122857/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-afrique-appeals-to-air-france-131798/ |archive-date=4 November 2012 |access-date=21 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="Air Afrique est en bout de piste">{{cite news |title=Air Afrique est en bout de piste |language=fr |trans-title=Air Afrique on the ropes |publisher=[[TF1|TF1 News]] |date=13 August 2001 |url=http://lci.tf1.fr/economie/2001-08/air-afrique-est-bout-piste-4875521.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229155525/http://lci.tf1.fr/economie/2001-08/air-afrique-est-bout-piste-4875521.html |archive-date=29 December 2012 |access-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Air Afrique finally goes bust">{{cite news|title=Air Afrique finally goes bust |publisher=BBC News |date=7 February 2002 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1807549.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120060823/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1807549.stm |archive-date=20 November 2012 |access-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="Air Afrique in crisis again">{{cite news|title=Air Afrique in crisis again |agency=[[Airline Business]] |publisher=[[Flightglobal]] |date=1 September 1998 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-afrique-in-crisis-again-40954/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104012929/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-afrique-in-crisis-again-40954/ |archive-date=4 January 2014 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
<!--  -->
<ref name="Air Afrique loses half its fleet">{{cite news|title=Air Afrique loses half its fleet |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=15 October 2001 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1600995.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306115421/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1600995.stm |archive-date=6 March 2016 |access-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Air Afrique peut-elle redécoller?">{{cite news|title=Air Afrique peut-elle redécoller? |language=fr |trans-title=Will Air Afrique resurge? |first=Dupuy |last=Georges |publisher=[[L'Express (France)|L'Express]] |date=13 May 1999 |url=http://www.lexpress.fr/informations/air-afrique-peut-elle-redecoller_633663.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929082151/http://www.lexpress.fr/informations/air-afrique-peut-elle-redecoller_633663.html |archive-date=29 September 2012 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Air Afrique rescue bid">{{cite news|title=Air Afrique rescue bid |agency=[[Airline Business]] |publisher=[[Flightglobal]] |date=1 September 2001 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-afrique-rescue-bid-135535/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104122910/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-afrique-rescue-bid-135535/ |archive-date=4 November 2012 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Air Afrique takes first Airbus A330-200 on lease for fleet upgrade">{{cite news|title=Air Afrique takes first Airbus A330-200 on lease for fleet upgrade |date=10 October 2000 |publisher=[[Flightglobal]] |agency=[[Flight International]] |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-afrique-takes-first-airbus-a330-200-on-lease-for-fleet-upgrade-121259/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104122941/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-afrique-takes-first-airbus-a330-200-on-lease-for-fleet-upgrade-121259/ |archive-date=4 November 2012 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Air Afrique wound up">{{cite news|title=Air Afrique wound up |first=David |last=Bamford |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=15 August 2001 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1491843.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306093551/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1491843.stm |archive-date=6 March 2016 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Air Afrique's mayday call">{{cite news|title=Air Afrique's mayday call |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=6 June 2001 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1373904.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306004228/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1373904.stm |archive-date=6 March 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Air France to up stake in ailing Air Afrique">{{cite news|title=Air France to up stake in ailing Air Afrique |agency=[[Flight International]] |publisher=[[Flightglobal]] |date=21 August 2001 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-france-to-up-stake-in-ailing-air-afrique-135008/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305204443/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-france-to-up-stake-in-ailing-air-afrique-135008/ |archive-date=5 March 2016 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="A310 seizure forces Afrique suspension">{{cite news|title=A310 seizure forces Afrique suspension |agency=[[Flight International]] |publisher=[[Flightglobal]] |date=15 July 1998 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/a310-seizure-forces-afrique-suspension-39310/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305151844/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/a310-seizure-forces-afrique-suspension-39310/ |archive-date=5 March 2016 |access-date=21 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="A striking end for Air Afrique">{{Cite news|title=A striking end for Air Afrique |first=Elizabeth |last=Blunt |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=26 November 2001 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1676582.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306054807/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1676582.stm |archive-date=6 March 2016 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Cheikh Fall, premier PDG d'Air Afrique">{{cite web|title=Cheikh Fall, premier PDG d'Air Afrique |language=fr |trans-title=Cheikh Fall, first Air Afrique CEO |publisher=Jeune Afrique |date=19 November 2006 |url=http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARCH-LIN19116cheikeuqirf0.xml/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928084232/http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARCH-LIN19116cheikeuqirf0.xml/ |archive-date=28 September 2012 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Crisis managers set to rescue debt-laden Air Afrique">{{cite news|title=Crisis managers set to rescue debt-laden Air Afrique |first=Mark |last=Pilling |location=London |agency=[[Airline Business]] |publisher=[[Flightglobal]] |date=1 March 2001 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/crisis-managers-set-to-rescue-debt-laden-air-afrique-126799/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104122843/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/crisis-managers-set-to-rescue-debt-laden-air-afrique-126799/ |archive-date=4 November 2012 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="DHL invests">{{cite news|title=DHL invests |agency=[[Airline Business]] |publisher=[[Flightglobal]] |date=1 February 1995 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dhl-invests-18921/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306153916/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dhl-invests-18921/ |archive-date=6 March 2016 |access-date=21 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1962-551/2">{{flatlist}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= The world's airlines – Air Afrique&nbsp;(page&nbsp;551)|journal= [[Flight International]]|volume= 81|number= 2770|date= 12 April 1962|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1962/1962%20-%200553.html|archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/67D82gfW5?url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1962/1962%20-%200553.html|archive-date= 26 April 2012 }} }}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= The world's airlines – Air Afrique&nbsp;(page&nbsp;552)|journal= Flight International|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1962/1962%20-%200554.html|archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/6KlIlGJSh?url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1962/1962%20-%200554.html|archive-date= 30 October 2013 }} }}
{{endflatlist}}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1963-508">{{cite journal|title=World airline survey... – Air Afrique |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=83 |number=2822 |date=11 April 1963 |page=508 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%200530.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104204209/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%200530.html |archive-date=4 November 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1963-629">{{cite journal|title=Some independent/national airlines partnership{{--}}France – UAT |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=83 |number=2825 |date=2 May 1963 |page=629 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%200657.html |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6KIaIpCgr?url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%200657.html |archive-date=11 October 2013 |quote=Participation with Air France in Air Afrique, in which UAT, like Air France, has a 17 per cent holding and to which it leases equipment. |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1963-636">{{cite journal|title=Air commerce – Union de Transports Aeriens |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=84 |number=2849 |date=17 October 1963 |page=636 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%201829.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231150843/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%201829.html |archive-date=31 December 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1965-565">{{cite journal|title=World airline survey – Air Afrique |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=87 |number=2927 |date=15 April 1965 |page=565 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1965/1965%20-%202117.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407103600/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1965/1965%20-%202117.html |archive-date=7 April 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1966-933">{{flatlist}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal
 |title=Airline Profile – Air France 
 |first=R. E. G. 
 |last=Davies 
 |journal=[[Flight International]] 
 |date=2 June 1966 
 |pages=932–935 
 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%201631.html 
 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6DJ4SkTlk?url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%201631.html 
 |archive-date=30 December 2012 
 |access-date=30 December 2012 
 |url-status=live 
}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal
 |title=Airline Profile – Air France&nbsp;(page&nbsp;933) 
 |journal=Flight International 
 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%201632.html 
 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6DJ66dY7l?url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%201632.html 
 |archive-date=30 December 2012 
 |access-date=30 December 2012 
 |url-status=live 
}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal
 |title=Airline Profile – Air France&nbsp;(page&nbsp;934) 
 |journal=Flight International 
 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%201633.html 
 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6DJ6APpOn?url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%201633.html 
 |archive-date=30 December 2012 
 |access-date=30 December 2012 
 |url-status=live 
}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal
 |title=Airline Profile – Air France&nbsp;(page&nbsp;935) 
 |journal=Flight International 
 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%201634.html 
 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6DJ6EFhEA?url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%201634.html 
 |archive-date=30 December 2012 
 |access-date=30 December 2012 
 |url-status=live 
}}}}
{{endflatlist}}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1969-553">{{cite journal|title=World Airline Survey – Air Afrique (Société Aérienne Africaine Multinationale) |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=95 |number=3135 |date=10 April 1969 |page=553 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%201806.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105121522/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%201806.html |archive-date=5 November 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1970-225">{{cite journal|title=Atlas uniting on DC-10 |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=98 |number=3205 |date=13 August 1970 |page=225 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1970/1970%20-%201555.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023041915/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1970/1970%20-%201555.html |archive-date=23 October 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1970-467">{{cite journal|title=World airlines 1970 – Air Afrique (Société Aérienne Africaine Multinationale) |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=97 |number=3185 |date=26 March 1970 |page=467 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1970/1970%20-%200517.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102024752/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1970/1970%20-%200517.html |archive-date=2 November 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1973-433">{{cite journal|title=World airline survey – Air Afrique (Société Aérienne Africaine Multinationale) |journal=[[Flight International]] |date=22 March 1973 |page=433 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1973/1973%20-%200735.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204210505/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1973/1973%20-%200735.html |archive-date=4 December 2013 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1973-668">{{cite journal|title=Air transport |journal=[[Flight International]] |date=3 May 1973 |page=668 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1973/1973%20-%201136.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201195335/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1973/1973%20-%201136.html |archive-date=1 February 2014 |access-date=20 January 2013 |quote=Air Afrique's first DC-10-30 at the [[McDonnell Douglas]] [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] factory before delivery to the airline's headquarters in Libreville. |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1975-177">{{cite journal|title=Air transport – The eleven member countries |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=108 |number=3465 |date=7 August 1975 |page=177 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%201431.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012041459/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%201431.html |archive-date=12 October 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1975-464">{{cite journal|title=World airline directory – Air Afrique(Société Aérienne Africaine Multinationale) |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=108 |number=3445 |date=20 March 1975 |page=464 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200528.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103201806/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200528.html |archive-date=3 January 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1975-479">{{cite journal|title=World airline directory – Cameroon Airlines |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=108 |number=3445 |date=20 March 1975 |page=479 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200543.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103193649/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200543.html |archive-date=3 January 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1977-920">{{cite journal|title=World airline directory – Air Afrique (Société Aérienne Africaine Multionatinale) |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=111 |number=3552 |date=9 April 1977 |page=920 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1977/1977%20-%200976.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104003716/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1977/1977%20-%200976.html |archive-date=4 January 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1978-1125">{{cite journal|title=World airline directory – Air Afrique (Société Aérienne Africaine Multionationale) |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=113 |number=3605 |date=22 April 1978 |page=1125 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1978/1978%20-%200629.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200537/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1978/1978%20-%200629.html |archive-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1979-1331">{{cite journal|title=World airline directory – Air Afrique (Société Aeriénne Africaine Multinationale) |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=115 |number=3658 |date=28 April 1979 |page=1331 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%201393.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104004037/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%201393.html |archive-date=4 January 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1979-1226">{{cite journal|title=Airliner market |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=3657 |number=115 |date=21 April 1979 |page=1226 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%201282.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023041912/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%201282.html |archive-date=23 October 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1979-1448">{{cite journal|title=Airliner market |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=3659 |number=115 |date=5 May 1979 |page=1448 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%201514.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105122731/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%201514.html |archive-date=5 November 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1980-271">{{cite journal|title=World airline directory – Air Afrique (Société Aérienne Africaine Multinationale) |journal=[[Flight International]] |issn=0015-3710 |volume=118 |number=3716 |date=26 July 1980 |page=271 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1980/1980%20-%201890.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114155631/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1980/1980%20-%201890.html |archive-date=14 November 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1981-1163">{{cite journal|title=Airliner market |journal=[[Flight International]] |date=25 April 1981 |page=1163 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%201149.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105122910/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%201149.html |archive-date=5 November 2012 |access-date=19 January 2013 |quote=Air Afrique has chosen to purchase two Airbus A300B4-200s instead of two A310s previously on order, increasing its total A300 buy to three. |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1985-38/40">{{flatlist}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= United we fall, divided we fall (page 38)|journal= [[Flight International]]|issn= 0015-3710|volume= 128|number= 3976|date= 7 September 1985|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%202586.html|archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/6MLpQGZIR?url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%202586.html|archive-date= 3 January 2013}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= United we fall, divided we fall (page 39)|journal= Flight International|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%202587.html|archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/6MLpcqgN5?url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%202587.html|archive-date= 3 January 2013}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= United we fall, divided we fall (page 40)|journal= Flight International|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%202588.html|archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/6MLpjpyGO?url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%202588.html|archive-date= 3 January 2013}}}}
{{endflatlist}}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1985-7">{{cite journal|title=Air Afrique struggles to control costs |journal=[[Flight International]] |date=2 February 1985 |page=7 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%200299.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104154900/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%200299.html |archive-date=4 November 2012 |access-date=20 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1985-7-27-7">{{cite journal|title=Air transport – Air Afrique gets new head |journal=[[Flight International]] |issn=0015-3710 |volume=128 |number=3970 |date=27 July 1985 |page=7 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%202299.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101072608/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%202299.html |archive-date=1 January 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1986-8">{{cite journal|title=Air Afrique celebrates jubilee with profit |journal=[[Flight International]] |issn=0015-3710 |volume=130 |number=4018 |date=5 July 1986 |page=8 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1986/1986%20-%201502.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231170115/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1986/1986%20-%201502.html |archive-date=31 December 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1989-12">{{cite journal|title=Air Afrique salvage plan welcomed |first=Gilbert |last=Sedbon |journal=[[Flight International]] |issn=0015-3710 |volume=4152 |number=135 |date=18 February 1989 |page=12 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1989/1989%20-%200406.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105122430/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1989/1989%20-%200406.html |archive-date=5 November 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1990-15">{{cite journal|title=Air Afrique shows profit after recovery |journal=[[Flight International]] |issn=0015-3710 |volume=137 |number=4219 |date=6–12 June 1990 |page=15 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%201593.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101091424/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%201593.html |archive-date=1 January 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1990-17">{{cite news|title=New in brief – Air Afrique A310s |journal=[[Flight International]] |issn=0015-3710 |volume=138 |number=4228 |date=8–14 August 1990 |page=17 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%202179.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621160823/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%202179.html |archive-date=21 June 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI1990-48/49">{{flatlist}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title=World airline directory – Air Afrique (Societe Aerienne Africaine Multinationale) |journal=[[Flight International]] |issn=0015-3710 |volume=137 |number=4207 |date=14–20 March 1990 |page=48 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%200700.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621155634/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%200700.html |archive-date=21 June 2014 |url-status=dead }} }}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title=World airline directory – Air Afrique (Societe Aerienne Africaine Multinationale) |journal=Flight International |page=49 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%200701.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621155443/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%200701.html |archive-date=21 June 2014 |url-status=dead }} }}
{{endflatlist}}</ref>
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<ref name="FI2000-57">{{cite journal|title=World Airline Directory – Air Afrique |journal=Flight International |issn=0015-3710 |volume=157 |number=4722 |date=4–10 April 2000 |page=57 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2000/2000%20-%201061.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815093732/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2000/2000%20-%201061.html |archive-date=15 August 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI2002-36">{{cite journal|last=MacKenzie |first=Christina |title=Air Afrique reaches end of the line |journal=[[Flight International]] |volume=161 |number=4819 |date=19–25 February 2002 |page=36 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2002/2002%20-%200488.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012041501/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2002/2002%20-%200488.html |archive-date=12 October 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="FI2002-45">{{flatlist}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal
 |title=Directory: world airlines – Air Afrique&nbsp;(page&nbsp;45) 
 |journal=[[Flight International]] 
 |date=12–18 March 2002 
 |pages=44–45 
 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2002/2002%20-%200721.html 
 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6DnNxNlPs?url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2002/2002%20-%200721.html 
 |archive-date=19 January 2013 
 |access-date=19 January 2013 
 |url-status=live 
}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal
 |title=Directory: world airlines – Air Afrique&nbsp;(page&nbsp;46) 
 |journal=Flight International 
 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2002/2002%20-%200722.html 
 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6DnOUzd62?url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2002/2002%20-%200722.html 
 |archive-date=19 January 2013 
 |access-date=19 January 2013 
 |url-status=live 
}}}}
{{endflatlist}}</ref>
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<ref name="Hopes rise for new Air Afrique">{{cite news|title=Hopes rise for new Air Afrique |first=Mark |last=Doyle |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=11 January 2002 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1755582.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306043021/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1755582.stm |archive-date=6 March 2016 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="In Africa, Many National Airlines Fly on a Wing and a Prayer">{{cite news|last= French|first= Howard W.|title= In Africa, Many National Airlines Fly on a Wing and a Prayer|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/17/world/in-africa-many-national-airlines-fly-on-a-wing-and-a-prayer.html|newspaper= [[The New York Times]]|date= 17 December 1995|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140621132111/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/17/world/in-africa-many-national-airlines-fly-on-a-wing-and-a-prayer.html|archive-date= 21 June 2014 }}</ref>
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<ref name="Kenya Airways targets Tanzania">{{cite news|title= Kenya Airways targets Tanzania|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2018912.stm|work= [[BBC News]]|date= 31 May 2002|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140621132252/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2018912.stm|archive-date= 21 June 2014 }}</ref>
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<ref name="Lebanese Hijacker Captured After Killing Passenger">{{cite news|title=Lebanese Hijacker Captured After Killing Passenger |first1=Katherine |last1=Roberts |first2=Milt |last2=Freudenheim |first3=James F. |last3=Clarity |work=The New York Times|date=26 July 1987 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/26/weekinreview/the-world-lebanese-hijacker-captured-after-killing-passenger.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110126071333/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/26/weekinreview/the-world-lebanese-hijacker-captured-after-killing-passenger.html |archive-date=26 January 2011 |access-date=7 December 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="New airline for West Africa">{{cite news|title=New airline for West Africa |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=6 September 2002 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2240830.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306183442/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2240830.stm |archive-date=6 March 2016 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="Revenue and Hope Ebb at West Africa's Airline">{{cite news|last= French|first= Howard W.|title= Revenue and Hope Ebb at West Africa's Airline|newspaper= [[The New York Times]]|date= 21 March 1996|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/21/business/international-business-revenue-and-hope-ebb-at-west-africa-s-airline.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140621131237/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/21/business/international-business-revenue-and-hope-ebb-at-west-africa-s-airline.html|archive-date= 21 June 2014 }}</ref>
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<ref name="rk69-1.jpg">{{cite web|title=Air Afrique Timetable September/October 1969 – Frontcover and Backcover |publisher=Airline Timetable Images |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/rk69/rk69-1.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008104939/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/rk69/rk69-1.jpg |archive-date=8 October 2012 |access-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="Swiss Fear Terrorism After Hijack Capture">{{cite news|title=Swiss Fear Terrorism After Hijack Capture |first=Thomas |last=Netter |location=Geneva |publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=27 July 1987 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/07/27/swiss-fear-terrorism-after-hijack-capture/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923203026/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-07-27/news/8702240658_1_air-afrique-hijacking-nabil-ramlawi |archive-date=23 September 2012 |access-date=7 December 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="Swiss Give Life Term To a Lebanese Man in a Fatal Hijacking">{{cite news|title=Swiss Give Life Term To a Lebanese Man in a Fatal Hijacking |work=The New York Times|date=25 February 1989 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/25/world/swiss-give-life-term-to-a-lebanese-man-in-a-fatal-hijacking.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315170316/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/25/world/swiss-give-life-term-to-a-lebanese-man-in-a-fatal-hijacking.html |archive-date=15 March 2014 |access-date=7 December 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="Troubles Tarnish a Once-Shining African Airline">{{cite news|title= Troubles Tarnish a Once-Shining African Airline|first= Norimitsu|last= Onishi|newspaper= [[The New York Times]]|date= 20 June 2001|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/20/world/troubles-tarnish-a-once-shining-african-airline.html?pagewanted=all|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140621132549/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/20/world/troubles-tarnish-a-once-shining-african-airline.html?pagewanted=all|archive-date= 21 June 2014 }}</ref>
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<ref name="Turn off the TAP">{{cite news|title=Turn off the TAP |first=Doug |last=Cameron |agency=[[Airline Business]] |publisher=[[Flightglobal]] |date=1 December 1997 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/turn-off-the-tap-30132/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306112303/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/turn-off-the-tap-30132/ |archive-date=6 March 2016 |access-date=21 January 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
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<ref name="Wanted: An Airline For All of Africa">{{cite news|last= Cauvin|first= Henri E.|title= Wanted: An Airline For All of Africa|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/04/business/the-business-world-wanted-an-airline-for-all-of-africa.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm|newspaper= [[The New York Times]]|date= 4 August 2002|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140621132727/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/04/business/the-business-world-wanted-an-airline-for-all-of-africa.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm|archive-date= 21 June 2014 }}</ref>
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<ref name="West African optimist">{{cite news|title= West African optimist|agency= Airline Business|work= [[Flightglobal]]|date= 1 December 1998|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/west-african-optimist-45486/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140621132855/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/west-african-optimist-45486/|archive-date= 21 June 2014 }}</ref>
|30em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last=Guttery|first=Ben R.|title=Encyclopedia of African Airlines|year=1998|publisher=Mc Farland & Company, Inc.|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=0-7864-0495-7}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.airafrique.com Air Afrique] {{in lang|fr}} (Archived)
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/195482.stm Rescue plan for Air Afrique] ''[[BBC]]''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110517124400/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-462949.html Air Afrique's Fall to Earth; Politics Has Bankrupted the Soaring Dream of 11 African Nations]
*[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/06/business/international-report-air-afrique-warns-debtors.html INTERNATIONAL REPORT; Air Afrique Warns Debtors]
*[https://www.nytimes.com/1971/01/29/archives/african-airlines-go-transatlantic.html African Airlines Go Trans-Atlantic]
*[https://archive.today/20121217131708/https://www.fastcase.com/Google/Start.aspx?C=453179113e94a220cfec701ed17ec11084808c382eb8e68f&D=bb5e8837e5d596c912027588ae6e7e25d2964ba14085205e Marie Louise GUEYE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. AIR AFRIQUE, Defendant-Appellee]
*[https://archive.today/20121217145810/https://www.fastcase.com/Google/Start.aspx?C=7184bc6037d0ad8124d3524b5551c35336729c450613d204&D=a906dde6f6bad342fbaefecc48557e346ff45f52bdef19bd Leonard TCHOKPONHOVE, Plaintiff, v. AIR AFRIQUE, Defendant.]
*[http://groups-beta.google.com/group/soc.culture.nigeria/browse_frm/thread/88b69d812bf7bbcb/3cb61f1cce87c3f1?q=%22Air+Afrique%22&rnum=2&hl=en#3cb61f1cce87c3f1 Google Groups - History of Air Afrique]{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=5035 Terrorism Knowledge Database - Hezbollah attacked Airports & Airlines target (July 24, 1987, Congo (Brazzaville))]

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[[Category:Defunct airlines of Benin]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of Burkina Faso]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of the Central African Republic]]
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[[Category:Defunct airlines of the Republic of the Congo]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of Ivory Coast]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of Mali]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of Mauritania]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of Niger]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of Senegal]]
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<!-- Please do not add any "Airlines of <country>" categories here, as Air Afrique is a defunct airline and those categories are already there -->
[[Category:Airlines established in 1961]]
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[[Category:1961 establishments in Africa]]
[[Category:2002 disestablishments in Africa]]
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