ABIDJAN, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast national carrier Air Cote d'Ivoire plans to raise 40 billion CFA francs ($81.74 million) over the next two years to expand its fleet and increase its reach in the West African region, the company's chief executive said.
The company, established to replace defunct carrier Air Ivoire, launched services in January. It is 65 percent state-owned, with Air France
"We will boost capital by 20 billion (CFA francs) next year and by 20 billion in 2015 as well to reach total capital of 65 billion CFA francs," CEO Rene Decurey told Reuters.
He said Air Cote d'Ivoire was expecting delivery next week of an Airbus A319, which it will lease from California-based Aviation Capital Group, allowing it to increase the number of destinations served from 13 to 18 while increasing frequency.
The airline aims to acquire another two planes by the end of 2015, bringing its fleet to six aircraft.
"The goal is to make Abidjan a hub, to reinforce it, to establish direct flights and avoid multiple stopovers," Decurey said.
Air Cote d'Ivoire transported 177,000 passengers between Jan. 15, when it launched its first commercial flight, and the end of September.
"By year's end we will be at nearly 220,000 passengers transported. Next year, we're targeting 450,000 passengers. In 2015, 570,000 passengers," the company's board chairman Abdoulaye Coulibaly told Reuters.
He said Air Cote d'Ivoire was also eyeing potential collaboration with airlines in neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
"There are other countries in the sub-region that could help us consolidate our activities. We are putting a lot of emphasis on regional cooperation," Coulibaly said.
($1 = 489.3560 CFA francs)
(Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly; editing by Joe Bavier and Tom Pfeiffer)
((joe.bavier@thomsonreuters.com)(+225 07074101)(Reuters Messaging: joe.bavier.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: IVORYCOAST AIRLINE/
