Equatorial Guinea, the oil-rich republic of Central Africa nestled along the Gulf of Guinea is not known for being particularly well connected. Internationally there are very few options getting to the capital – Malabo – and domestically there are only a small hand full of routes.
Malabo International Airport (SSG) serves as the primary international gateway, located on the island of Bioko, while the mainland (Rio Mundi) is served by Bata Airport (BSG) handling regional and domestic traffic.
The country's skies are dominated by a blend of African regional carriers and select European majors. Operations remain constrained by the European Union's ongoing ban on all Equatorial Guinean-registered airlines due to safety oversight concerns, limiting local carriers to intra-African and domestic routes. International links primarily come from reliable foreign operators, ensuring connectivity for business in the energy sector, expatriates, and the trickle of tourists drawn to this increasingly popular but still mainly isolated nation.
Whether you're planning on joining one of Saiga Tours' Equatorial Guinea group tours or just checking out your oil interests, this list will help you know which airlines fly to and from Equatorial Guinea.
Afrijet
Headquartered in Libreville, Gabon, Afrijet is a regional carrier launched in 2004, specializing in short-haul connections across West and Central Africa. With a fleet of efficient ATR 72 turboprops, it is well regarded for punctuality. Afrijet offers scheduled flights to Malabo from Douala (Cameroon) year-round, from Libreville (Gabon), Cotonou (Benin), and Port Harcourt (Nigeria). It also serves Bata seasonally from Douala and Libreville. These routes, averaging 45–90 minutes, are booked online or via agents, making Afrijet a go-to for seamless intra-African hops without the frills of larger airlines.
Air France
France's iconic flag carrier, Air France, operates from its Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) hub and is a SkyTeam alliance member. Boasting a modern fleet of Boeing 777s and Airbus A350s, it excels in long-haul comfort with premium in-flight dining and entertainment. Scheduled direct flights to Malabo run from Paris CDG (about 7–8 hours), connecting via a quick stop in Douala (Cameroon) year-round.
ASKY Airlines
Based in Lomé, Togo, ASKY Airlines is a 2010-founded pan-African player backed by Ethiopian Airlines, using a mix of Boeing 737s and Bombardier Dash 8s for its regional service. It operates scheduled flights to Malabo from Lomé and Yaoundé (Cameroon) operating year-round.
CEIBA Intercontinental
Equatorial Guinea's national airline, CEIBA Intercontinental, is based at Malabo International Airport and has been airborne since 2007. Despite the EU ban restricting it to African operations, it serves about 15 regional points. Key routes include year-round domestics between Malabo and Bata, plus internationals to Douala (Cameroon), Libreville (Gabon), Lomé (Togo), and Cotonou (Benin).
Cronos Airlines
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Malabo, Cronos Airlines is a homegrown regional operator blending passenger and cargo services with a fleet of BAe 146 jets and newer additions like the Embraer Legacy. Cronos is generally known as being the more reliable of the two main Equatorial Guinean airlines, although it is also known for its delays, sudden schedule changes and basic service. Scheduled flights include daily domestics between Malabo and Bata (45 minutes, 30+ weekly), year-round to Douala (Cameroon), and seasonal (October–March) to Port Harcourt (Nigeria).
Ethiopian Airlines
Africa's premier airline and Star Alliance member, Ethiopian Airlines, traces its roots to 1945 and is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Its modern fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350s makes it the biggest airline in Africa. Scheduled non-stops to Malabo operate year-round from Addis Ababa (via Douala, Cameroon), spanning 5–6 hours and connecting to 130+ global destinations. Your most reliable African option to and from Equatorial Guinea
Lufthansa
Germany's Lufthansa, a Star Alliance member, is headquartered in Frankfurt with a vast Airbus and Boeing fleet emphasizing efficiency and luxury. It provides scheduled flights to Malabo via Lagos (Nigeria) year-round.
Royal Air Maroc
Morocco's Royal Air Maroc (RAM), a Oneworld affiliate founded in 1953, operates from Casablanca Mohammed V Airport with Boeing 737s and 787s for pan-African reach. It flies scheduled direct to Malabo from Casablanca year-round (around 5 hours). If you can make your way to Casablanca, this route is often the more affordable.
ValueJet
Launched in 2022 from Lagos, Nigeria, ValueJet is a low-cost upstart using Bombardier CRJ series jets for nimble domestic and regional ops. Its scheduled seasonal flights (October–March) to Malabo from Port Harcourt (Nigeria) enhance West African travel.
If you're interested at exploring Equatorial Guinea or just more of the African continent, then check out the group tours we have available coming up in Africa.
To secure your place on one of our group tours, send us a message to [email protected].
