A delegation from the Directorate-General for Air Transport (DGTA) of Côte d'Ivoire conducted a study mission to Emirates Airlines in Dubai from 18 to 24 July 2026. This visit is part of the development of a strategic plan to improve the competitiveness of Ivorian air transport and strengthen the positioning of Abidjan as an air platform in West Africa.

Conducted by the Director General of Air Transport, Ahmed Djibril Coulibaly, the Ivorian delegation studied several aspects of the operational model of Emirates Airlines and Dubai International Airport.

The discussions included procedures for issuing and renewing the air carrier certificate, taxation of the sector, air operations management systems, automated processes at Terminal 3, maintenance facilities and emergency management systems.

This mission is the third step in a process initiated by the Department of Transport and Maritime Affairs since January 2025.

After a consultation with air transport users and a national workshop on the competitiveness of the sector in April 2026, the Ivorian authorities now want to use international references to define the reforms to be implemented.

According to the Ministry, Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport welcomed 2,551,915 passengers in 2025, while Air Côte d'Ivoire recorded two consecutive profit years.

The discussions also opened up several prospects for cooperation between the two sides. These include the feasibility study of a direct air link between Abidjan and Dubai, taking into account the recent lifting of restrictions on excess baggage granted to West African passengers by Emirates since 16 July 2026, and the preparation of a memorandum of understanding between the Emirati company and the Ivorian Ministry of Tourism.

These initiatives are part of a growing competition between the main air hubs in West Africa, where Abidjan, Dakar, Accra and Lomé seek to strengthen their attractiveness for airlines and passenger flows.