Air Côte d’Ivoire: BADEA funding for two Airbus A330 Neo aircraft and long-haul flights from Abidjan

Thanks to an agreement totaling 76.6 million US dollars (approximately 47.913 billion CFA francs) signed between Côte d’Ivoire and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the airline Air Côte d’Ivoire will acquire two long-haul Airbus A330-900 Neo aircraft with a capacity of 242 seats to launch direct and regular long-haul flights from Abidjan.

This agreement was ratified through a decree adopted on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan-Plateau.

Government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly, who announced the news following the Council of Ministers meeting, stated that the total amount includes a Tranche A loan of 20 million US dollars and a Tranche B loan of 56.6 million US dollars, concluded on March 18, 2025.

“The financing under this agreement will enable Air Côte d’Ivoire to launch direct and regular long-haul flights from Abidjan to major American and European cities such as New York and Paris, as well as several other international destinations. The project specifically includes the acquisition of two long-haul Airbus A330-900 Neo aircraft, each with a capacity of 242 seats, to support the growth of Air Côte d’Ivoire, reduce air travel costs, and improve our country’s air connectivity,” said Amadou Coulibaly.