The UAE’s specialized next-generation B2B airport-to-airport express middle-mile cargo airline, SolitAir, has announced the expansion of its footprint in Africa with two new destinations, Port Harcourt, Nigeria via Port Harcourt International Airport (PHC) and Hargeisa, Somaliland via Egal International Airport (HGA).
The expansion adds to SolitAir’s African network which now covers 20 destinations in 16 countries and further strengthens the carrier’s position as a trade link between the Gulf and fast-growing African commercial markets that have historically had limited access to reliable express cargo capacity. SolitAir now serves more than 60 destinations in 35 countries around the world in Asia, Africa and Europe.
The airline has already announced the new Nigerian connection with a dedicated cargo mission to Port Harcourt. This was a one-off service to meet an immediate customer requirement, with 20 tons of general cargo on board SolitAir’s standard Boeing 737-800BCF freighter.
The operation was part of a multi-leg routing of DWC-NBO-PHC-NBO-KWI-DWC, the main East African hub of SolitAir at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi (NBO). The first DWC-PHC service was a one-off mission but the airline said frequencies could be introduced on a regular basis and increased, if there was sustained market demand.
Both destinations were chosen for their importance to industry and trade in the region. Port Harcourt International Airport sits in the middle of Nigeria’s oil and gas economy and is one of the country’s busiest cargo gateways. Egal International Airport in Hargeisa is located in a commercially active area that depends on dependable express freighter service for exports such as livestock and agricultural products that need to be shipped quickly.
“Nigeria and Somaliland are important additions to our African network enabling us to build stronger links between the Gulf and those markets. “We are looking for destinations where there is a clear demand for reliable air cargo services and where we can add value to existing trade flows as we continue to grow,” said SolitAir’s Founder and CEO, Hamdi Osman.
“These routes were built on real customer demand. He said: “We are developing the network with good examples such as Port Harcourt and Hargeisa, looking at where our partners need to move cargo and building connections to support those trade flows.”
The Port Harcourt addition expands SolitAir’s growing presence in West Africa. The carrier also flies to key regional markets such as Conakry (CKY), Accra (ACC) and Port Harcourt (PHC). As part of its plans for expansion in West Africa, the airline is eyeing to further expand its commercial reach across West Africa with future services to Lagos (LOS), Nigeria and Freetown (FNA), Sierra Leone.
SolitAir has its headquarters at its world-class hub at Dubai World Central (DWC), Al Maktoum International Airport, operational since October 2024. The airline currently operates seven Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, each with a payload capacity of 20 tons.
Demand is picking up on the key international trade routes, and SolitAir is aiming for a fleet of 20 freighter aircraft by the end of 2027.
This carrier’s operational international regulatory approvals are also wide-ranging. These include a UAE GCAA Air Operator’s Certificate, EASA Third Country Operator authorization, ACC3 designation awarded by the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority and UK CAA Third Country Operator certification.
With these approvals and a growing fleet and network, SolitAir is positioning itself to further develop middle-mile express air freight links across Africa, Asia and Europe.
