Air Côte d'Ivoire has become the first A320neo operator in the West-African region. On Thursday, the carrier took delivery of its first New Engine Option of the A320 family, as the plane carried humanitarian supplies from Toulouse to Abidjan. The airline will begin deploying the jet on regional routes but eyes an expansion to destinations in South Africa in the future.

Ferried a ton of supplies for health and education

On Thursday, February 18th, Air Côte d'Ivoire took delivery of its first Airbus A320neo. This makes the Abidjan-based carrier the first operator of the type in the West-African region. Ownership was transferred on Wednesday, and one day later, the aircraft took off from the manufacturer's facilities in Toulouse.

Not only on delivery, the jet also had a second mission. It carried over a ton of humanitarian goods such as medical supplies and children's toys. The initiative is a partnership between Aviation sans Frontiéres and the Airbus Foundation and part of Air Côte d'Ivoire’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) drive.

The aircraft, registered as TU-TSX, took off from Toulouse, France, at 11:12 local time. Following five hours and 38 minutes in the air, it landed at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Côte d'Ivoire's financial capital of Abidjan. Viewers could follow the live event and ceremony of the delivery streamed via the airline's social media.

The A320neo joins The West African flag carrier's fleet of four De Havilland DHC-8 Dash 8 turboprops, three Airbus A319, and two Airbus A320ceos. It is the third Airbus the airline has taken delivery of straight from the manufacturer.

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Regional with potential for expansion

Initially, it will deploy the jet on its regional network for Senegal, Gabon, and Cameroon. Meanwhile, the carrier intends to add South African destinations to the newcomer's roster at a later stage, taking advantage of the jet's operational flexibility.

Air Côte d'Ivoire is the flag carrier of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. The airline was founded in May 2012 and commenced operations six months later. It succeeded the country's former national airline, Air Ivoire, which went bankrupt in 2011.

It is owned 58% by Côte d'Ivoire's government, 11% by Air France-KLM, 23% by a consortium of private Ivorian investors called Golden Road, and 8% by other investors.

Air Côte d'Ivoire's Airbus family

The airline took delivery of its first aircraft, an Airbus A319, on lease from Macquarie AirFinance and previously operated by Air France, in October 2012. The second jet of the type with the same arrangement and history arrived a few weeks later.

The third A319 did not arrive until 2017, when an aircraft leased from AirCap previously operated by Mexicana, AeroGal, and Avianca Ecuador arrived in Abidjan. The carrier's two own A320s also arrived in 2017, the first in July and the second in September.

Have you flown with Air Côte D'Ivoire, or on the A320neo? Tell us about your experience in the comments.