After taking delivery of its first Airbus A319-100 (MCN: 2213 | TU-TSA) leased from Air France last week in Abidjan, Air Cote d'Ivoire (VRE), the joint venture between the Government of Ivory Coast, Air France and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, has announced that intends to commence operations towards the "end of October".
Additionally, at a presentation on the airline's business model in the capital, Abidjan, recently, the various routes it intends to serve in the coming future were outlined :
Domestically:
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire to:
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| Air Cote d'Ivoire's Domestic Network (Abidjan.net) |
- Bouna
- Bouaké
- Bondoukou
- Korhogo
- Man
- Odienné
- San Pedro
- Yamassoukoro
Regionally:
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| Air Cote d'Ivoire's Regional Network (Abidjan.net) |
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire to:
- Accra, Ghana
- Bamako, Mali
- Conakry, Guinea
- Cotonou, Benin
- Dakar, Senegal
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
In an interview with the local Ivorian
press, Air Cote d'Ivoire's boss, René Décurey, distinguished the Ivorian
start-up's game plan from that of Sénégal Airlines (DN) and Ethiopian
Airlines' Lomé, Togo-based ASKY Airlines (KP) stating:
Source [Cote d'Ivoire Economie PDF]"We analyzed the region. The fundamental differences (between Air Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal Airlines and ASKY Ailrines, Ethiopian Airlines West African subsidiary) are based on the network and on the product offered on board. On the network, we decided that we, Air Côte d'Ivoire, could not do it alone, we need partners, and with feeder flights from different countries, we can create a platform in Abidjan. This allows us to make direct flights from Abidjan to Central Africa without going via Cotonou or Lomé. Air Côte d'Ivoire's passengers will have more direct flights. Regarding the product on board, there is this differentiation between business class and tourist class, it is also important to give value to business class passengers."