Getting there
Airlines and routes at Freetown International Airport
Short answer
- Airport
- Freetown International Airport, Lungi, code FNA 3
- Europe hubs named
- Brussels, Istanbul, Casablanca, per the National Tourist Board in October 2024 1
- African carriers named
- Ethiopian Airlines, Air Senegal, Kenya Airways 1
- UK direct flight
- London Gatwick, first flight 26 April 2025, as reported by Aviation Week 5
- EU ban
- Carriers certified in Sierra Leone banned from the EU, update of 9 June 2026 7
Airlines named by the National Tourist Board
The National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone says Air France, Brussels Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines and Kenya Airways fly to Lungi Airport, along with several other African airlines 2. That page was last modified on 9 September 2024 2. It points readers to the Sierra Leone Airports Authority for flight operations 2.
A tourist board guide for travellers from the UK, last modified on 29 October 2024, gives flight details for three carriers 1. It says Ethiopian Airlines, Air Senegal and Kenya Airways serve Lungi from African airports, and that connections from the UK on these carriers need two or more stops 1. The guide does not state time zones for the times it lists 1.
| Airline | Route | Frequency | Times listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish Airlines 1 | Istanbul to Freetown, stop in Ouagadougou 1 | Daily 1 | Departs 17.40, lands 00.30 1 |
| Brussels Airlines 1 | Brussels to Freetown 1 | Five a week, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 1 | Departs 12.20, lands 18.15 1 |
| Royal Air Maroc 1 | Casablanca to Freetown 1 | Three a week, six a week from mid-December to mid-January 1 | Departs 23.15, lands 02.20 next day 1 |
Regional routes
BusinessDay, as reported by Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha, said Overland Airways would start Lagos to Freetown flights on 19 December 2024 3. The report said flights would run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with an 88-seat Embraer E175 3.
BusinessDay, as reported by Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha on 23 January 2025, said Air Sierra Leone made its inaugural flight into Lagos on Wednesday 22 January 2025 4. It described the airline as Sierra Leone's new flag carrier and said Nigerian carrier Xejet provides aircraft under a technical partnership 4. It said the route runs three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with a 50-seat E145 4.
Direct flights to the UK
Aviation Week, in an unsigned report of 30 April 2025, said Ascend Airways UK operated the first London Gatwick to Freetown flight for Air Sierra Leone on 26 April 2025, returning on 27 April 5. It said three weekly flights would start on 16 June 2025 and that the last direct flights between the two countries were in 2012 5.
In January, Premier News reported SLCAA saying Air Sierra Leone did not yet hold a Sierra Leone air operator certificate 6. It said the airline would fly its regional route under a Nigerian certificate and its UK route under a UK certificate, and that both routes were not affected by the EU ban 6.
The EU ban on Sierra Leone carriers
SLCAA says Sierra Leone has been on the EU Air Safety List since 2008 6. Euronews, as reported by Fakhriya M. Suleiman, said that after the EU update of 9 June 2026 all carriers certified in Sierra Leone were still banned from operating in Europe 7. The ban applies to the certificate holder, not to foreign airlines that fly to Freetown 6,7.
Finding a current schedule
The Sierra Leone Airports Authority has a flight and boat schedule page, published on 28 May 2025 8. When viewed on 24 October 2026 it gave a link to a Sea Coach Express boat timetable and no airline timetable 8. This site has not found an official current list of airlines at the airport.
Travellers should check routes, days and fares with the airline before booking. The water taxi and ferry options from the airport are covered on this site's estuary pages 2.
Common questions
Which airlines fly to Freetown from Europe?
The National Tourist Board names Air France, Brussels Airlines, Royal Air Maroc and Turkish Airlines among airlines flying to Lungi 2.
Is there a direct flight from London to Freetown?
Aviation Week reported that Ascend Airways flew London Gatwick to Freetown for Air Sierra Leone from 26 April 2025, with three weekly flights from 16 June 2025 5.
Can I fly from Lagos to Freetown?
Yes. Overland Airways announced flights from 19 December 2024, and BusinessDay reported Air Sierra Leone's first Lagos flight on 22 January 2025 3,4.
Can Sierra Leone airlines fly to Europe?
Carriers certified in Sierra Leone were still banned from the EU after the 9 June 2026 update 7.
Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@sierraleoneairportguide.com.
Sources
- National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone: Traveling from the UK to Sierra Leone (last modified 29 October 2024)
- National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone: Getting there and around (last modified 9 September 2024)
- BusinessDay, as reported by Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha: Overland Airways expands network with new flight to Freetown (17 December 2024)
- BusinessDay, as reported by Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha: Air Sierra Leone marks inaugural flight into Lagos (23 January 2025)
- Aviation Week, no byline: Ascend Airways inaugurates first direct flight between UK and Sierra Leone (30 April 2025)
- Premier News SL, as reported by Sallieu S. Kanu: Sierra Leone has been on EU aviation blacklist since 2008 (13 January, year not shown on page)
- Euronews, as reported by Fakhriya M. Suleiman: These are all the carriers banned from flying in Europe after EU Air Safety List update (10 June 2026)
- Sierra Leone Airports Authority: Freetown international flight and boat schedule (published 28 May 2025, viewed 24 October 2026)
Related
- Arriving at Freetown International Airport
What to expect on arrival at Freetown International Airport at Lungi: visa on arrival or eVisa, yellow fever proof, customs, fees and transfer to Freetown.
- Departing from Freetown International Airport
What departing passengers at Freetown International Airport pay and need: Foreign Travel Tax, security fee status, exit rules and transfer to Lungi.
- Lungi to Freetown by water taxi and ferry
Water taxi and ferry options across the estuary between Freetown International Airport at Lungi and Freetown, with operators, times and dated fares.
- ICAO safety and security audits of Sierra Leone aviation
What ICAO safety and security audits found in Sierra Leone, the help that followed, and the status of the EU air safety ban on Sierra Leone carriers.
- Hastings Airfield and domestic flights in Sierra Leone
What is known about Hastings Airfield near Freetown, the plans to reopen it, the country's small airstrips and whether any domestic flights run.
- Freetown airport traffic statistics: passengers and flights
Passenger and aircraft figures for Freetown International Airport at Lungi from 2013 to 2025, with who published each number and when.