The frequency of flights between Bamako and Timbuktu should be two flights per week. With a stop in Mopti in the coming days. These two new destinations are added to those of Kayes and Gao, which have also been served recently.

Since Air Mali ceased operations in 2012, there have been no civilian commercial flights to these localities. It is the creation of a new airline, Sky Mali, last year that made it possible to restart a supply of connections to the interior of the country, despite significant security constraints.

Until then there was only the often dangerous road and boat to travel. So in Timbuktu, the arrival of this first flight is welcomed with relief by many residents. "If you have urgent business, you can easily travel to Bamako to solve the problem and return quickly. So it's a great relief, because it develops the region. It's a safer, faster means," rejoices a merchant.

But for these new air links to materialize in northern Mali, security had to be carefully considered, whether for passenger registration or for takeoffs and landings. Sky Mali relied on the FAMAS (Armed Forces of Mali), MINUSMA (United Nations Multidisciplinary Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali) and especially the Barkhane force, explains Chief Executive Officer Tahir Ndiaye.

"They really facilitated the installation, they deployed all the security procedures that Sky Mali had to adopt. And before operating, we had to contact the Barkhane forces to avoid mixing the flight corridors."

According to the airline's director, the first routes opened, at the end of 2020, Kayes and Gao are already showing an 80% occupancy rate.