Malawi Airlines
Malawi Airlines (Malawian Airlines until 2016) is the flag carrier airline of Malawi, based in Lilongwe and with its hub at Lilongwe International Airport. It was established in 2012 after the liquidation of Air Malawi, the former national airline. Ethiopian Airlines operates it under a management contract and owns 49% of the airline after it emerged as the winner following competitive bidding. On 25 March 2021, the Board of Directors of the company passed a resolution recommending the "orderly winding up of the company" due to heavy debts and technical insolvency. However, on 5 May 2021 the Government of Malawi confirmed that it intended to recapitalise the airline instead. In 2022, the airline announced its first annual profit of MWK 4 billion (USD 4.0 million). History The airline was formed in , following the collapse of Air Malawi, the hitherto national carrier, in February 2013, as a result of the inability to pay its debts. A deal with Ethiopian Airlines, that would see this carrier having a 49% shareholding in Air Malawi, was finalised in ; the agreement also contemplated the renaming of Air Malawi to Malawian Airlines Ltd. Operations commenced on serving the Blantyre–Lilongwe domestic route using 67-seater Bombardier Q400 aircraft. Malawian launched its first international service to Harare on . Johannesburg was added to the route network two weeks later, on 17 February, and Dar es Salaam was incorporated on 18 February. Corporate affairs Ownership The airline is owned by the Government of Malawi (51%) and Ethiopian Airlines (49%). The government planned to offload 31% of its stake to private investors after a minimum period of 12 months after operations commence and it expected to earn US$6 million from this sale. In March 2016 Jimmy Lipunga, CEO of The Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC), said that plans by the Malawi government to sell some shares in the airline to members of the public would depend on the airline attaining profitability. Business trends Malawi Airlines was not profitable from its launch in 2014 until it reported a profit for 2021. Few financial and other trends have been made available by either of the main shareholders (years ending 31 December): As of April 2021, the company has incurred cumulative losses of MWK 14.09 billion (USD 17.86 million) and has accumulated debts of MWK 13.83 billion (USD 17.54 million). However, in June 2022, the airline announced that it had recorded its first profitable year with profits of MWK 4 billion (USD 4 million) in 2021. Head office The airline's head office is located within the Golden Peacock Shopping Complex in Lilongwe. Destinations Malawi Airlines serves the following destinations, : Fleet As of February 2023 the airline's fleet consists of the following aircraft: See also Airlines of Africa Air Malawi Transport in Malawi References External links Ethiopian Airways Becomes Strategic Partner of Malawian Airlines Airlines of Malawi Airlines established in 2013 Lilongwe 2013 establishments in Malawi Ethiopian Airlines