Some 109,039 passengers were transported in 2011 and plans are underway to break new grounds.
Cameroon Airlines Corporation (Camair-Co) kicked off decadently on March 28, 2011 defeating expectations of pessimists. The corporation opened flights with few passengers from the Douala International Airport to Yaounde, where an inaugural ceremony was held.
With two aircrafts, it executed 870 flights with 109,039 passengers and registered a 93,07 per cent punctuality – rated among world best performances in the aviation industry in a year. Initially flying Douala-Paris and Douala-Yaounde, the year has witnessed the opening up of new flight destinations like Lyon in France, N’Djamena, Cotonou, Garoua, Yaounde, Maroua, Bangui, Malabo, Libreville and Brazzaville from Douala.
The year was also not without hindrances like flying to some destinations unfilled. This happened especially with domestic flights. To avert further unprofitability coupled with inadequate passengers, flights to Bangui were quickly stopped. The corporation has registered some FCFA 9 billion deficit in 12 months, as much as 30-40 per cent is spent on fuel. “We will keep on flying; that is an absolute fact. Our vision is to connect with other cities of Cameroon as well as other parts of the world,” Corporation’s General Manager, Alex Van Elk said during a news conference in Douala yesterday March 21.
Entirely financed by the government, Camair-Co, received 32 billion from Cameroon for investments to set up the corporation, to train staff and Cameroonian pilots, while the corporation produced FCFA 15 billion in 12 months. Corporation executives also revealed that Camair-Co will start making profit by 2014. Following its financial plan, until 2014 the corporation will continue to seek subventions from the government. The national carrier at take off last year had a staff-strength of 419. Of this number, 141 are former Camair workers, 61 expatriates and 358 Cameroonians. It currently has 405 personnel, of which 155 are former Camair workers, 21 are expatriates and 398 are Cameroonians, managed by seven executives with three due to leave in the next three months. Presently there are 83 cabin crew who are Cameroonians, as compared to 100 in 2011. Still in 2011, 16 expatriates formed the cabin crew, compared to zero this year. Also there were 33 expatriate pilots last year as against 14 this year. 2012 and beyond will see the corporation offer a wider range of products; aggressive pricing to Paris and Lyon, improve proposition to and from Paris, develop domestic and regional network, collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, customer-centric focus, close collaboration with corporate and trade partners and ensure frank collaboration.
