Chad’s Tchadia Airlines has been placed into liquidation, following three consecutive years of financial losses. The move was decided by shareholders following last month’s general assembly, with the lack of prospects for financial recovery being stated as another reason for the liquidation.

Despite facing no direct competition on the majority of its routes, and even with the backing and leadership of heavyweight Ethiopian Airlines, it appears that Tchadia Airlines was unable to survive the financial impacts of the pandemic.

Simple Flying has reached out to Tchadia Airlines’ parent company, Ethiopian Airlines, for comment.

A short history of Tchadia Airlines

The airline, based in N’Djamena, was founded in 2018 as part of an agreement between the Government of Chad and Ethiopian Airlines. It commenced operations later that year, with the first flight departing on October 1st, 2018.

With its fleet of two Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, Tchadia Airlines flew to a handful of destinations around the region, including Douala, Khartoum, and Niamey. Prior to the liquidation, there were plans to add Boeing 737NGs to the fleet.

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Speaking at the launch of Tchadia Airlines, CEO of the Ethiopian Airlines Group, Tewolde GebreMariam, proudly said,

"The strategic equity partnership in the launching of the new Chad national carrier is part of our Vision 2025 multiple hub strategy in Africa. The new Chad national carrier will serve as a strong hub in Central Africa availing domestic, regional and eventually international air connectivity to the major destinations in the Middle East, Europe and Asia."

However, the venture was not the success that GebreMariam had hoped for, and the liquidation mirrors that of Ethiopian Mozambique Airlines, which ceased operations in May 2021.

Tchadia Airlines' demise leaves ASKY Airlines, Malawi Airlines, and Zambia Airways as active partner airlines of Ethiopian Airlines. Pre-pandemic, the carrier was also in talks with Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea, to set up more local carriers through joint ventures.

Want to find out more about Tchadia Airlines and the routes it operated? Take a look at Simple Flying’s former airline startup of the week.

The impact on the region

With Tchadia Airlines being the sole operator on many of its routes, local communities and businesses alike will be the hardest hit by the reduction in connections from N’Djamena International Airport.

Of the routes previously operated by Tchadia Airlines, Douala has the most remaining connections to N’Djamena – Air Cote d’Ivoire, ASKY Airlines, and CEIBA Intercontinental all continue to operate the route. Sudan Airways also continues to fly from N’Djamena to Kano and Khartoum – two other routes that were flown by Tchadia Airlines.

When looking at destinations further afield, other carriers still operating at N’Djamena International Airport include Ethiopian Airlines, Air France, and Turkish Airlines, from their respective hubs at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Istanbul.

What do you think of Tchadia Airlines being placed into liquidation? Have you flown on Tchadia Airlines? Share your thoughts and experiences by commenting below.