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Malawi Airlines

Malawi Airlines (Malawian Airlines until 2016) is the flag carrier airline of Malawi, based in Lilongwe and with its hub at Kamuzu International Airport.[2] It was established in 2012 after the liquidation of Air Malawi, the former national airline. Ethiopian Airlines operates it under a management contract and owns 49 percent of the airline after it emerged as the winner following competitive bidding.

On 25 March 2021, the Board of Directors of the company passed a resolution recommending the "orderly winding up of the company" due to heavy debts and technical insolvency.[3] However, on 5 May 2021 the Government of Malawi confirmed that it intended to recapitalise the airline instead.[4] In 2022, the airline announced its first annual profit of MWK 4 billion (USD 4.0 million).

History

The airline was formed in July 2013, following the collapse of Air Malawi, the hitherto national carrier, in February 2013, as a result of the inability to pay its debts.[5][6] A deal with Ethiopian Airlines, that would see this carrier having a 49 percent shareholding in Air Malawi, was finalised in July 2013; the agreement also contemplated the renaming of Air Malawi to Malawian Airlines Ltd.

Operations commenced on January 31, 2014 serving the Blantyre–Lilongwe domestic route using 67-seater Bombardier Q400 aircraft.[7] Malawian launched its first international service to Harare on February 3, 2014. Johannesburg was added to the route network two weeks later, on 17 February, and Dar es Salaam was incorporated on 18 February.

Corporate affairs

Ownership

The airline is owned by the Government of Malawi (51 percent) and Ethiopian Airlines (49 percent).[8] The government planned to offload 31% of its stake to private investors after a minimum period of 12 months after operations commence and it expected to earn US$6 million from this sale.[9] In March 2016 Jimmy Lipunga, CEO of The Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC), said that plans by the Malawi government to sell some shares in the airline to members of the public would depend on the airline attaining profitability.[10]

Business trends

Malawi Airlines was not profitable from its launch in 2014 until it reported a profit for 2021. Few financial and other trends have been made available by either of the main shareholders (years ending 31 December):

As of April 2021, the company has incurred cumulative losses of MWK 14.09 billion (USD 17.86 million) and has accumulated debts of MWK 13.83 billion (USD 17.54 million).[3] However, in June 2022, the airline announced that it had recorded its first profitable year with profits of MWK 4 billion (USD 4 million) in 2021.[16]

Head office

The airline's head office is located within the Golden Peacock Shopping Complex in Lilongwe.[17]

Destinations

Malawi Airlines serves the following destinations, as of November 2025:[18][19][20] The airline plans to add daily flights and expand new regional network routes to Pemba and Nampula in Mozambique, Kigali in Rwanda, as well as Entebbe in Uganda. It also plans to add another evening flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.[25]

Fleet

As of August 2025, Malawi Airlines operates the following aircraft:[26]

See also

External links

References

  1. Philip Wafula. Malawi Airlines launches Entebbe route Monitor (Uganda), 26 Nov 2025^
  2. Lucky Mkandawire. Passengers express pride as Malawian Airlines inaugurates J'burg flight Nyasa Times, 19 February 2014^
  3. Dumbani Mzele. Malawi Airlines faces liquidation The Nation, 10 April 2021^
  4. Malawi Airlines to be recapitalised ch-Aviation, 6 May 2021^
  5. 243 lose their jobs at Air Malawi Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi, retrieved 24 April 2015^
  6. Ethiopia, Malawi Air deal puts new pressure on Kenya Airways retrieved 24 April 2015^
  7. Malawian Airlines Receives Another Aircraft AllAfrica.com, 16 February 2014^
  8. Malawian Airlines retrieved 2016-10-11^
  9. Kingsley Jassi. Malawi Airlines' shares on sale in a year timesmediamw.com, 2014-02-05, retrieved 2014-03-01^
  10. Caroline Kandiero. Assessment positive on Malawian Airlines timesmediamw.com, 2016-03-31, retrieved 2016-06-21^
  11. Malawian Airlines upbeat on returns Business Malawi, 27 April 2015, retrieved 21 June 2016^
  12. Malawian Airlines' hurdles not airline specific—PPPC BThe Nation, 6 September 2017, retrieved 22 February 2020^
  13. Airports shutdown to cost Malawi K1bn The Nation, 17 August 2019, retrieved 22 February 2020^
  14. Malawian Airlines adds Q400 capacity through 3Q19 Ch-Aviation, 23 April 2019^
  15. Ethiopian won't stop robbing Malawi Airlines Nyasa Times, 26 December 2020^
  16. Malawi Airlines Posts a Four Billion Kwacha Profit Zodiak Online, 7 June 2022, retrieved 11 June 2022^
  17. Offices Malawi Airlines, retrieved 26 March 2021^
  18. Flight Schedule Malawian Airlines, retrieved 9 May 2017^
  19. Flight Route Map Malawian Airlines, retrieved 21 June 2018^
  20. About Us - Brief History Malawian Airlines, retrieved 21 June 2018^
  21. Malawi Airlines makes maiden flight to Nairobi Malawian Airlines, 29 March 2017^
  22. CAPA. Malawi Airlines to Commence Lilongwe-Johannesburg and Lilongwe-Entebbe services in December 2025 Centre for Aviation (CAPA), 18 November 2025, retrieved 18 November 2025^
  23. Malawi Airlines launches Lilongwe to Lusaka non-stop service Lusaka Voice, 2014-02-20, retrieved 2014-03-01^
  24. Malawian Airlines commences Harare flight Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi, retrieved 24 April 2015^
  25. Malawi Airlines resumes B737-700 operations ch-aviation, retrieved 26 November 2023^
  26. Global Airline Guide 2025 - Malawi Airlines Airliner World, September 2025^
  27. Air Malawi Now To Be Called Malawian Airlines Malawi Voice, 4 July 2013^
  28. Ethiopian Strategic Partner, Malawian Airlines, Launches its First International flight to Johannesburg Ethiopian Airlines, 21 February 2014^
  29. Lucky Mkandawire. Malawi Airlines inaugurates first domestic flight Nyasa Times, 14 February 2014^
  30. Malawi Airlines introduces Dar es Salaam link from Lilongwe anna.aero, 26 February 2014^
  31. Malawi Airlines Kick Start With A Domestic Flight: Blantyre-Lilongwe Malawi Voice, 1 February 2014^
  32. Victoria Moores. Newly launched Malawian Airlines begins international flights Air Transport World, 26 February 2014^
  33. Victoria Moores. Reports: Ethiopian Airlines, Air Malawi finalize deal Air Transport World, 9 July 2013^
  34. Zimbabwe: Malawian Airways Lands in Zim AllAfrica.com, 5 February 2014^