Report No. 49194 africa infrastructure country diagnostic

Just as with flag carriers, the airline became a regional symbol of pride and independence. But, quality of service was sometimes compromised even in the best of times, when, for example, reservation systems collapsed, making seat assignments impossible. In the last days, passengers were faced with increased strandings. Claims are that prioritization of seating had often been given out to nonrevenue passengers of importance, and that schedule integrity had diminished. Efforts by the airline’s president to restructure the airline in 2001 through cutting jobs were vehemently opposed by its employees, who at one point refused to fly an airplane with the president on board. The airline collapsed in 2001 after being sold to private investors and Air France for $69 million, with debts of $ 500 million. Much of the debt was accumulated when the CFA Franc collapsed in the 1990s. Governance issues are also commonly cited as a cause for the fall. When the airline finally ceased operating, there were a reported 4,200 employees, with only seven aircraft flying.