Domestic flying in Equatorial Guinea is the quickest way to cross the country’s unusual geography: Malabo sits on the island of Bioko, while Bata and most economic activity sit on the mainland. A handful of smaller islands, for example Annobón and Corisco, are remote and serviced only occasionally. Flights are short but seats are limited, schedules change, and fares can vary widely.
Airlines currently operating in Equatorial Guinea
CEIBA Intercontinental
- Background: Equatorial Guinea’s largest scheduled operator and national carrier has multiple domestic and regional routes. Founded in the 2000s and regularly listed on current route timetables. CEIBA Intercontinental is named after the ceiba tree, which features on the Equatorial Guinean flag. The Equatorial Guinean flag carrier doesn’t have the best reputation and is known for delays, cancellations and poor service.
- Ownership: CEIBA Intercontinental is owned by the Equatorial Guinean government.
- How to buy tickets: CEIBA sells tickets through its official website and at airport ticket desks; local travel agencies also sell CEIBA fares. For island or provincial legs you’ll often buy at the airport or via a local agent.
Cronos Airlines
- Background: Malabo-based regional airline operating the main domestic routes. Cronos grew from regional services and focuses heavily on domestic connectivity. Cronos is generally considered the most reliable airline in Equatorial Guinea.
- Ownership: Privately owned regional carrier (historic founder/management information reported in trade profiles).
- How to buy tickets: Cronos lists flights on its site and sells via airport desks and online reseller/OTA listings.
Guinea Equatorial Airlines (GEASA / charter operators)
- Background: Smaller operator focused on charters and ad-hoc domestic services. Public information is limited.
- Ownership: Guinea Equatorial Airlines is also privately owned and primarily caters to oil workers.
- How to buy tickets: Tickets can only be purchased by phone or travel agents.
Malabo to Bata
Malabo to Bata and vice versa is the busiest route in Equatorial Guinea. Malabo being the capital and Bata the largest city on the mainland.
- Flight time: roughly 45–50 minutes non-stop.
- Operators & frequency: CEIBA and Cronos are the primary scheduled operators; the route commonly has daily flights and often multiple daily frequencies on busier days.
- Approximate prices: Fares fluctuate a lot depending on demand and inventory. International online ticket agents sometimes show surprisingly high one-way fares (examples on major booking sites have appeared in the US$600+ one-way range at times), while local sales and direct airline desks can produce lower XAF-priced fares when seats are released. If purchasing directly from the airline or through a travel agent, flights should be between $200 and $300 one-way.
- Service / punctuality: Cronos generally is considered to have better punctuality and service, while CEIBA offers more options.
Other domestic routes
- Malabo – Annobón: Annobon is located in the far south of the country, with Sao Tome and Principe lying between Annobon and Bioko. This route has limited frequency (often only a few flights weekly). Flight time is longer (typically around 2 hours depending on routing) and fares are a premium because seats are scarce; check CEIBA’s published schedules for the current weekly departures.
- Malabo – Mongomo / Mongomeyen and provincial airfields: This flight takes a little under 2 hours. The Malabo – Mongomo flight occurs twice per week, currently on Sundays and Fridays.
- Corisco: Mostly chartered or seasonal — contact CEIBA, Cronos or a local travel agent for confirmations and prices (which vary widely).
Quick reference table (printable)
|
Route |
Typical flight time |
Typical frequency |
Main operators |
|
Malabo (SSG) — Bata (BSG) |
45–50 min |
Daily / multiple times on some days |
CEIBA, Cronos |
|
Malabo — Annobón (NBN) |
2 hrs |
Rarely |
CEIBA (limited) |
|
Malabo — Mongomeyen / Mongomo |
45–90 min |
Twice weekly |
CEIBA, charters |
|
Bata — Provincial islands / charters |
Varies |
Sporadic / charter |
CEIBA, Cronos, charters |
Defunct Airlines of Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea’s aviation scene has seen many short-lived carriers and several that ceased operations. Airlines which attempted to take on the Equatorial Guinean market include Air Annobón, which operated from 2013 until 2016, Punto Azul, which stopped operating in 2017 and primarily catered to oil workers with routes such as Malabo to Port Harcourt, and a number of small national and charter lines that started and closed during the 2000s and 2010s. Several of these carriers were small, had limited fleets, and stopped because of financial, regulatory, or operational reasons.
