ABIDJAN, Feb 18 (Reuters) – Ivory Coast’s national airline Air Cote d’Ivoire reported turnover of 48 billion CFA Francs ($88.7 million) in 2020, down 42% from 83 billion the previous year because of the coronavirus pandemic, an official said on Thursday.

The airline received 14 billion CFA francs from the government last June to keep it afloat as flights were halted.

Travel curbs have hit heavily-indebted airlines in the region, forcing some into liquidation.

The Ivorian flag carrier took delivery of a new Airbus A320neo on Thursday and aims to start serving South Africa in the second half of this year, said Laurent Loukou, deputy CEO.

“We are confident that with this aircraft we will gain market share,” Loukou told reporters.

Ivory Coast is home to Abidjan airport, one of West Africa’s busiest hubs that connects flights across the region.

Founded in 2013, Air Cote d’Ivoire has a fleet of 10 planes and serves 18 destinations in West and Central Africa.

It carried about 300,000 passengers in 2020, down from 760,000 passengers the previous year. ($1 = 541.2000 CFA francs) (Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly; Editing by Nellie Peyton and Grant McCool)

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