The presence of Sierra National Airlines (SNA) at London’s Gatwick airport is perhaps the most visible sign in the UK of the progress that has been made by Sierra Leone in recent years. The national carrier operates a regular twice-weekly service between Gatwick’s South Terminal and Freetown’s Lungi airport.
It also includes Banjul – the Gambian capital and a popular British tourist destination – on its route network.

‘We want to become more international’ A. D. A. M’Cormack

A. D. A. M’Cormack, SNA’s Managing Director, says that, after a slow start, the airline has established itself as a symbol of the new Sierra Leone, with a track record for reliability, safety and security. He hopes that this will be a platform to expand the airline’s operations and reach in the future. “We want to become more international,” he says.

SNA is exploring other long-haul routes, particularly to continental Europe, and is keen to secure a partnership deal with a major American airline to open up connections with the US. It is also in talks with other African carriers to expand the regional network. There are high hopes for the coming decade. “SNA will be flying places in 10 years,” he says.

SNA aims to open up connections with the US and expand its regional network

Mr M’Cormack is aware that people view the airline as something of a barometer to gauge the level of stability in the country. As a result, SNA prides itself in achieving competitive pricing and quality, both in the air and on the ground at Gatwick and Freetown.

The intention is to exceed passenger expectations, which in turn will reflect on the nation as a whole. SNA offers everything demanding modern air passengers need, including special dietary requirements, like vegetarian and kosher food, and a flying nanny service to look after unaccompanied children.

However, Mr M’Cormack admits that progress is to some extent beyond the airline’s control. “No matter how good the quality of service is, if people do not have confidence in the stability of the country and the end of the war, nobody will come.”

The reality at the moment is that the airline is now enjoying the benefits of prolonged peace in the country. It has resulted in an influx of returning Sierra Leone nationals, as well as foreign businessmen and tourists. SNA has also improved its financial performance, against a history of accumulated outstanding debts, with a view to establishing further credibility on the international scene. “We are positioned to take advantage of those improvements in people’s confidence,” he adds.

Currently, a large proportion of SNA’s passengers from London are UN workers. This makes traffic projections difficult. SNA hopes that by the time Unamsil leaves the country a number of investors will have come in to create additional demand. An upsurge in the level of business activity in Sierra Leone is already evident. Freetown is once again back on the map for visiting businessmen from places like the Gambia, Senegal and Nigeria.

The unpredictable demand was highlighted at the end of last year. During one week in December the airline carried 1,831 passengers out of London. The magnitude of this becomes clearer when compared to the 1,536 passengers carried for the whole month of December in 2001.

As the only direct link between Sierra Leone and the UK, SNA is well placed to capture the largest share of this growing trade. “Last year was very good. Small as we are, we had to bring Boeing 747s in. It was quite a rush,” says Mr M’Cormack.

Tourism is a crucial factor. The airline, as the nation’s flag carrier abroad, is part of the government’s initiative to promote Sierra Leone as a destination on the European travel map. Mr M’Cormack says that before tourism takes off, the government must make sure that the right infrastructure is in place. This means attention to the country’s hotels, water and power supplies and the transfer from Lungi airport to Freetown. “We believe that this country has great potential for tourism.”