Air France ends its presence in Mali after decades of operation.

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

Air France has announced the permanent closure of its local office in Mali, effective June 30, 2026, marking the end of its direct presence in the capital, Bamako, after years of activity and collaboration with local partners.

The decision was made in an official letter dated June 15, 2026, addressed by the company to its corporate and commercial partners, in which it expressed its appreciation for the professional relationships it had built with them over the years of its work in the country.

In its message, the company affirmed that its employees and partners played a pivotal role in building strong and fruitful relationships, praising the level of trust and cooperation that characterized its time in the financial market, and emphasizing that it retains ”special memories” from this experience.

Air France offers remote support services

Despite the closure of the local office, Air France stressed that it will continue to provide services to its partners in Mali through alternative support channels, with the AGV help desk remaining the main point of contact for receiving requests and inquiries.

She explained that this step aims to ensure the continuity of communication and operations management after the office closure, without affecting the level of service provided to customers and partners.

The decision marks a turning point for the company.

The decision represents a shift in the company's trajectory within Mali, as Air France did not disclose the direct reasons behind the closure, but it ends a local presence that spanned years and contributed to developing its relationships within the financial market.

In closing, the company reiterated its commitment to maintaining its operational relationships with its partners in Mali through its regional services, emphasizing its deep appreciation for the support and trust it has received throughout its time operating in the country.

Historically, the Malian capital, Bamako, was not part of Air France’s network when the company was founded in 1933, as it was then part of French Sudan. However, as the company expanded its activities in Africa, its presence in Mali gradually began to take shape during the 1930s.

In 1937, the famous French writer and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry led an expedition for Air France and the Ministry of Aviation, which included a long route of about 15,000 kilometers, passing through a number of African cities, including Bamako, in a move that paved the way for its inclusion in the company’s network.

By 1938, regular flights between Paris, Dakar, and Bamako had begun, with two flights per week. Passengers would arrive in Dakar on Deutsteen 333s and then continue their journey to Bamako on Wibo 282s. Although initially popular – with only 397 passengers that year – Bamako quickly became an important stopover after World War II.

During the 1950s, flights witnessed remarkable development, as Bamako was linked to Orly Airport in Paris via Casablanca, using DC-4 and Constellation aircraft, reducing the flight time to about 15 hours only, at a time when the city was experiencing rapid growth, as its population rose from a few hundred at the end of the 19th century to about 100,000 with Mali’s independence in 1960.

In the following decades, Bamako became one of Air France’s main hubs in West Africa, with daily direct flights connecting it to Paris, taking about 5 hours and 45 minutes using Boeing 777 aircraft.

The decision to close Air France’s office in Mali by the end of June 2026 marks the end of a long chapter in the company’s history in the country, after nearly nine decades of gradual presence, which began with exploratory flights and ended with one of its most important gateways in the west of the continent.