Airlines of Africa
Soon becoming the fastest growing commercial aviation market in the world, Africa is home to over 200 airlines with the oldest dating nearly 100 years. We hope to one day capture the largest from each of Africa’s 54 countries.
Egypt Air
Egypt Air was established in 1932 as Misr Airlines to serve as the carrier for Egypt and has gone through many name changes. In 1949, when the Egyptian State became the sole shareholder of the company, Misr became Misrair; in 1958, upon the formation of the United Arab Republic (roughly modern Egypt and Syria), Misrair was renamed United Arab Airlines (UAA); and finally, in 1971, as the country again changed its name to the Arab Republic of Egypt, UAA was rebranded as EgyptAir. Note the falcon located on the tail, based on Horus, the Egyptian “winged god of the sun."
Above is a Boeing 777-300ER (SU-GDL) arriving at London Heathrow (LHR) from Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines was founded in 1945 with scheduled international routes in 1951, Ethiopian became the world’s fourth largest airline by countries served in 2019 (and serves more African destinations than any other). The company has also certainly met its financial goals, designated as Africa's most profitable airline many times and among the most profitable airlines in the world. Ethiopian’s livery includes a tri-colour emblem on the tail composed of the country's colours of green, yellow, and red. Ethiopian also flies one of the most modern fleets of any African carrier, as seen with this A350.
Above is an Airbus A350-900 (ET-AWP) names “Paris” arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Bole Addis Ababa International Airport (ADD)
Air Algerie
Air Algérie was founded in 1947 as the Compagnie Générale de Transports Aériens (CGTA) operating charter flights out of Algeria. By the 1950s, it flew scheduled flights to multiple destinations in Europe, and in 1953, CGTA merged with Compagnie Air Transport (CAT), a small French airline looking for a partner airline, forming the Compagnie Générale de Transports Aériens Air Algérie. When Algeria became independent in 1962, the newly formed government took a majority stake in the company as it became Algeria’s official flag carrier.
Above is an Airbus A330-200 (7T-AJC) arriving at London Heathrow (LHR) from Algiers International Airport Houari Boumediene (ALG)
Royal Air Maroc
TAP (Transportes Aéreos Portugueses) was founded in 1945, with a first flight from Lisbon to Madrid using a DC-3 aircraft. (TAP only inaugrated its first domestiv service (Lisbon-Ponto) in 1947.) Then, in the 1960s, TAP rapidly modernized its fleet with futeristic jets like the Boeing 707, 727, and Sud Aviation Caravel. In 1964, the airline flew its one millionth passenger, ane then, by 1967, TAP was the first European airline to operate only jet aircraft. Today, it is the largest operator of the efficient A330neo.
(The plane shown is an Airbus A350-900 (B-32A5) arriving at London Heathrow (LHR)from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK).)