note
Compagnie Aerienne Gabonaise was founded in 1951 by French aviation pionneer Jean-Claude Brouillet, as the first airline in Gabon. Operations were started with a Tiger Moth which was used to link timber camps in the forest to the capital Libreville. Scheduled flights were later started with a De Havilland Dragon Rapide, soon joined by a Nordyun Norseman and finally DC3s. The airline became national carrier of Gabon in 1968 and changed its name to Societe Nationale Transgabon. In 1974, the airline changed its name to its current title. Airline withdrew from Air Afrique consortium in 1977. Air Gabon serves domestic market as well as neighboring countries. In 1989 it acquired its sole Lockheed L-100 Hercules as a freighter. Airline operated meddley of types in its domestic market. Its fleet consisted of diverse aircraft such as DHC-6/4, CASA Aviocar, Vickers Vanguard, DC-4 and 6 and Antonov An-12. It has consolidated its fleet since, but still considerable variety exists. It had a 747 Combi since 1978 which it uses on its flights to Europe where it serves Paris, Marseille, Nice and Rome. It utilized the type on Johannesburg and Kinshasa routes as well. Since 1989 it also had a 767, and a Fokker F100 since 1986. Some of more exotic destinations served by Air Gabon included Dubai, Nairobi Point Noire and island of Sao Tome. From 2004, financial problems started to overwhelm the government-run airline, with aircraft being impounded in Paris and others being sold. On March 3, 2006, the Government of Gabon finally announced the same day the immediate liquidation of the bankrupt national carrier Air Gabon and its replacement by a new private airline named Air Gabon International (which never existed and was actually replaced by Gabon Airlines).
founded - demised (age)
January 1 1951 - March 3 2006 (55)
headquarters
PO Box 2206 - A, Libreville
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (0)
