Air Cote d'Ivoire (VRE), the joint venture between the Government of
Ivory Coast, Air France and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, is to postpone its inaugural flight once more, this time "for a few weeks" likely implying a November launch.
The revelation came during today's official presentation ceremony for Air Cote d'Ivoire's two Airbus A319s - (MSN: 2228 | TU-TSB) and (MSN: 2213 | TU-TSA) - in which Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara disclosed:
"The flights will begin in a few weeks," said President Alassane Ouattara during a presentation ceremony of the two aircraft at Abidjan's airport, wishing "good luck and happy flying to Air Côte d'Ivoire."
In the past, reasons given for the delay in launching have been are the ongoing crisis in Mali as well as Air France's tardy delivery of two Airbus A319s.
According to General Abdoulaye Coulibaly, Chairman of the Board of Air Côte d'Ivoire, the carrier will serve "ten African capitals in total, with three of them to be launched in due course, and is expected to carry 300'000 passengers in its first year and to create 2'500 jobs." Additionally, Air Côte d'Ivoire is to acquire two further aircraft in Q1 of 2013, to ply its domestic routes.
Pictures from the Presentation Ceremony (Merci beaucoup Jean Soro!)
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| President Ouattara at Air Cote d'Ivoire's presentation (Jean Soro) |
