Is Niger Republic Set To Establish A National Carrier Named ‘Niger Air International’?
On September 8, 2025, an X (formerly Twitter) based blog claimed that the Sahel nation of Niger republic is about to establish its national carrier which will be known as ‘Niger Air International’. The claim was posted with 2 airline pictures having the inscription ‘Niger Air International’ and ‘Air Niger’, alongside the Nigerien leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani.
This post was captioned, “Niger recently announced the creation of its new national airline, Niger Air International. It will be a mixed-economy company, with the state holding most shares while private investors also join. The airline aims to improve domestic and international travel, strengthen the economy, and cut dependence on foreign carriers. Niger is also seeking technical and managerial support from Morocco. The move comes after Niger Airlines was suspended in November 2022 due to security concerns.”
VERIFICATION
In early February 2025, Niger Republic’s Minister of Transport and Equipment, Colonel Salissou Mahaman Salisou, officially announced plans to create a new national airline. He also announced that there will be a regional carrier for the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States, ASS. This plan is reported to be part of a broader strategy to improve domestic and regional air connectivity and streamline regulatory processes to make the launch easier.
There were however no references to the name of the new airline. Business Insider Africa, North Africa Post, Prensa Latina, Agenzia Nova Sputnik Africa, and APTA’s earlier reports on the national carrier did not mention the name “Niger Air International” or “Air Niger.” These news platforms only referred to a new national airline but did not specify a brand name or identity.
By July 2025, a news report indicated that Niger was seeking technical assistance from Morocco to help establish this national airline, leveraging Moroccan experience in aviation infrastructure and regulation. In September 2025, publications from Africa Brief and News Aero confirmed that Niger’s Council of Ministers had adopted a decree naming the new airline, Niger Air International.
CONCLUSION
The claim that the Niger Republic announced plans for the establishment of a national airline is TRUE. The country’s Minister of Transport and Equipment, Colonel Salissou Mahaman Salisou, has officially announced plans to create a new national carrier and recent reports confirm that the adopted name for the Nigerien carrier is “Niger Air International.”
