Malawi Airlines

Malawi Airlines (Malawian Airlines until 2016) is the flag carrier airline of Malawi, based in Lilongwe and with its hub at Lilongwe 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% of the airline after it emerged as the winner following competitive bidding.

Malawi Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
3W MWI MALAWIAN
FoundedJuly 2013 (2013-07)
Commenced operations31 January 2014 (2014-01-31)
HubsKamuzu International Airport
Focus citiesChileka International Airport
Fleet size2
Destinations7
Parent companyMalawian Government (51%)
HeadquartersLilongwe, Malawi
Key peopleLaike Tadesse(CEO)[1]
Employees71 [1]
Websitewww.malawian-airlines.com

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. [1] However, on 5 May 2021 the Government of Malawi confirmed that it intended to recapitalise the airline instead.[3] In 2022, the airline announced its first annual profit of MWK 4 billion (USD 4.0 million).[4]

History

The airline was formed in July 2013 (2013-07),[5] following the collapse of Air Malawi, the hitherto national carrier, in February 2013, as a result of the inability to pay its debts.[6][7] A deal with Ethiopian Airlines, that would see this carrier having a 49% shareholding in Air Malawi, was finalised in July 2013 (2013-07); the agreement also contemplated the renaming of Air Malawi to Malawian Airlines Ltd.[8][9]

Operations commenced on 31 January 2014 (2014-01-31) serving the Blantyre–Lilongwe domestic route using 67-seater Bombardier Q400 aircraft.[10][11] Malawian launched its first international service to Harare on 3 February 2014 (2014-02-03).[12] Johannesburg was added to the route network two weeks later, on 17 February,[13] and Dar es Salaam was incorporated on 18 February.[14]

Corporate affairs

Ownership

The airline is owned by the Government of Malawi (51%) and Ethiopian Airlines (49%).[15] 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.[16] 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.[17]

The Malawi Airlines Boeing 737-700 in September 2014

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):

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Turnover (MWKb)
Net profit (MWKb) loss loss loss loss loss loss loss 4.0
Number of employees (at year end)
Number of passengers (m)
Passenger load factor (%)
Number of aircraft (at year end) 2 2 2 2 2 3 1 2
Notes/sources [18] [18] [19] [19] [20] [21] [22] [4]

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).[1] 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.[4]

Head office

The airline's head office is located within the Golden Peacock Shopping Complex in Lilongwe.[23]

Destinations

Malawi Airlines serves the following destinations, as of February 2023:[24][25][26]

Country City Airport Start End Refs
KenyaNairobiJomo Kenyatta International Airport29 March 2017—[27]
MalawiBlantyreChileka International Airport31 January 2014—[10][28]
MalawiLilongweKamuzu International Airport Hub——[28]
South AfricaJohannesburgO. R. Tambo International Airport17 February 2014—[13]
TanzaniaDar es SalaamJulius Nyerere International Airport18 February 2014—[14]
ZambiaLusakaKenneth Kaunda International Airport17 February 2014—[29]
ZimbabweHarareHarare International Airport3 February 2014—[12][30]

Fleet

As of February 2023 the airline's fleet consists of the following aircraft:[31]

Malawi Airlines Fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
C E Total
Boeing 737-800 1 – 16 150 166
Bombardier Dash-8 Q 400 1 – 7 60 67
Total 2 -

See also

References
  1. Dumbani Mzele (10 April 2021). "Malawi Airlines faces liquidation". The Nation.
  2. Mkandawire, Lucky (19 February 2014). "Passengers express pride as Malawian Airlines inaugurates J'burg flight". Nyasa Times. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014.
  3. "Malawi Airlines to be recapitalised". ch-Aviation. 6 May 2021.
  4. "Malawi Airlines Posts a Four Billion Kwacha Profit". Zodiak Online. 7 June 2022.
  5. Moores, Victoria (26 February 2014). "Newly launched Malawian Airlines begins international flights". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014.
  6. "243 lose their jobs at Air Malawi". Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  7. "Ethiopia, Malawi Air deal puts new pressure on Kenya Airways". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  8. Moores, Victoria (9 July 2013). "Reports: Ethiopian Airlines, Air Malawi finalize deal". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 14 July 2013.
  9. "Air Malawi Now To Be Called Malawian Airlines". Malawi Voice. 4 July 2013. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. 
  10. "Malawian Airlines Receives Another Aircraft". AllAfrica.com. 16 February 2014. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. 
  11. "Malawi Airlines Kick Start With A Domestic Flight: Blantyre-Lilongwe". Malawi Voice. 1 February 2014. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. 
  12. "Zimbabwe: Malawian Airways Lands in Zim". AllAfrica.com. The Herald. 5 February 2014. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. 
  13. "Ethiopian Strategic Partner, Malawian Airlines, Launches its First International flight to Johannesburg" (Press release). Ethiopian Airlines. 21 February 2014. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. 
  14. "Malawian Airlines". Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  15. Jassi, Kingsley (5 February 2014). "Malawi Airlines' shares on sale in a year". timesmediamw.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  16. Kandiero, Caroline (31 March 2016). "Assessment positive on Malawian Airlines". timesmediamw.com. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  17. "Malawian Airlines upbeat on returns". Business Malawi. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  18. "Malawian Airlines' hurdles not airline specific—PPPC". BThe Nation. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  19. "Airports shutdown to cost Malawi K1bn". The Nation. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  20. "Malawian Airlines adds Q400 capacity through 3Q19". Ch-Aviation. 23 April 2019.
  21. "Ethiopian won't stop robbing Malawi Airlines". Nyasa Times. 26 December 2020.
  22. "Malawi Airlines - Offices". Malawi Airlines. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  23. "Flight Schedule". Malawian Airlines. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  24. "Flight Route Map". Malawian Airlines. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  25. "About Us - Brief History". Malawian Airlines. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  26. "Malawi Airlines makes maiden flight to Nairobi" (Press release). Malawian Airlines. 29 March 2017. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017.
  27. Mkandawire, Lucky (14 February 2014). "Malawi Airlines inaugurates first domestic flight". Nyasa Times. Archived from the original on 3 January 2015. 
  28. "Malawi Airlines launches Lilongwe to Lusaka non-stop service". Lusaka Voice. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  29. "Malawian Airlines commences Harare flight". Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  30. "3W/MWI Fleet - Malawian Airlines".

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