Passengers stranded in Nairobi as airlines suspend flights to Mogadishu

In a meeting held on Tuesday by heads of Somali airlines under the Airline Operators Association (AOA), Hassan Hashi Mohamud, the Association’s chair, said that despite having submitted multiple complaints over time no action had been taken.

“The Somali airlines hereby officially declare suspension of all operations in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Authority of Somalia,” Mr Mohamud said. “Effective Wednesday, January 22, 2025, Somali Airlines has completely suspended all domestic and international flights until a lasting solution is reached.”

The decision affects both local travel and international routes, disrupting services for thousands of passengers.

At least 200 passengers were stranded at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on their way to Mogadishu. 

Several domestic flights scheduled to depart Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport were cancelled. The cancellations forced many passengers waiting to travel to different regions within Somalia to either make alternative arrangements or postpone their plans.

The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), which regulates civilian air travel in Somalia, had assured the public there would be no disruption, but it warned against spreading misinformation about flight schedules.

The authority blamed the grounding of certain aircraft on safety concerns, citing inspections that revealed maintenance issues.

"The Civil Aviation Authority has carried out inspections of domestic aircraft and found problems that could endanger the safety of passengers. These aircraft cannot fly until repairs are completed in accordance with the law," the SCAA said in a statement.

The SCAA also accused some airlines of poor passenger handling and operational inefficiencies, including relying on other airlines to serve routes due to prolonged maintenance or lack of aircraft in Somalia. 

The management of Aden Adde International Airport instructed the airport's management company, Favori, to deny counter access to airlines without operational aircraft based at the airport. 

"Some airlines are operating without aircraft in the capital and booking passengers through other airlines, which has disrupted services to certain regions," the SCAA said. 

Within Somalia, some airlines operated normally, including flights to Baidoa, the capital of South West State.  

And I-Fly Air, which is based in Kenya, made flights to Mogadishu, according to flight data monitor FlightRadar24.

Read: Somalia concerned by Kenya's decision to divert Mogadishu flights

While the SCAA did not directly address airlines' complaints about increased fees, the standoff underscores broader challenges within Somalia's aviation sector, including regulatory compliance, operational inefficiencies and financial disputes.

Mercy Mbaika, senior corporate communications officer at Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, said that they needed to confirm the situation and “get back with more information about the situation”.

In October, Kenya Airways, which operates three weekly flights to Mogadishu, suspended all flights due to operational challenges as it adjusted its network. KQ, said in a statement that it was rearranging route network and improving overall operational efficiency.