Returning to France with a couple domestic flights in Gabon first.
Flight routing
- 1
- 2
- 3J7193 GAX -> POG
- 4J7153 POG -> LBV
- 5AF977 LBV -> CDG
I'll go to the airport with a car. The road is decent, there are not too many potholes there will be no wait to access the terminal. Actually, you don't have the choice, a car is mandatory if you want to go to the airport due to the lack of public transportation.
The neighbouring area is an oil field and the airport has some derelict buildings.
However indications are clear
There is almost no one here.
The airport is closed. It will open after the arrival of the inbound plane whichh will carry ground agents. There are only one or two weekly flights so the company employees travel from Port Gentil for the flight.
Here is the plane
Today TR-AGB will be carrying us. It is the sole ATR 42 in Afrijet fleet and is the oldest plane of the company. All the other planes are recent ATR 72. There are also one or two leased CRJ for routes with a larger passenger load.
The check-in area is small. There is only one agent to perform passenger check-in and luggage drop off.
There are no assigned seat and the boarding pass is a plastic card.
Security is fast even if there is only one line. The aggent is friendly but shoes must be removed. The boardin area has around 20 seats and AC is working.
There is a TV and free water is available but no wifi network.
This helicopter carries workers from local oil compagnies to Port Gentil but they do not use the terminal facilities.
Passengers walk to the ariplane for boarding. No security agent complains about me taking pictures in the airport (the complete opposite of POG).
Boarding is don through the main passenger door (rear left).
SInce there are no assigned seats I choose a window seat. THe legroom is small.
View from the window. The glass is not really clean.
Safety card.
There is no pushback. The plane goes forwar and turns left immediately
We have to go to the runway's end to make a U-turn.
U-turn
Take off
The city of Gamba
Cruise above Gabon
A sandwich (chicken or tuna) and a soft drink are proposed.
Approaching Port Gentil
Landing
The red helicopter is already here
The Afrijet terminal
The main terminal, which is used by helicopter companies.
We will disembark and walk to the Afrijet terminal from where we will collect our luggage after 15 minutes. POG is not photo friendly airside so I won't take any.
Thanks for sharing this domestic flight. Interesting service on board.
So sad to see what Gamba airport has become :(
Service is good for a flight that lasts one hour.
Sadly, the change of ownership of the neighboring oil fields has reduced the investments into the airport.
Quite an interesting flight to be fair and I can't imagine i've heard it before that the airlines flies their staff in to handle a flight. Thanks for reporting!
It is actually common in Gabon on some domestic destinations that are operated less than daily.
thanks for the flight report and experience
You're welcome,
Thanks for commenting,
A private plane is one thing to have, but a private airport??😂
Gabon looks so green! If you don’t mind and if you have the time, would you mind letting me know if you think it is worth the visit there?
A very intriguing report and has set me in the mood for Africa. I love the laidback style (even if they didn’t want you taking pictures this flight) and with ground agents being flown in, have never heard of that in my life😅. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
Gabon is really green, there is no shortage of water that I'm aware of.
I do think it is a wonderful country to visit, nature is wonderful but visiting is not easy. In the past tourism was not a priority and the country lacks some infrastructure (roads, hotels) to cater to some tourists requirements. Things are starting to change with the new transition government. There is a huge potential with their national parks and natural reserves.
I've never done anything touristic in Gabon but there are travel agencies that can probably organize things for you.
Thanks for this exotic report! Yikes the legroom looks so tight! But I guess that's partly because the seats are so thick. Wow, a sandwich on a 1h flight on a turbo-prop...nice surprise!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for commenting.
Yes the seats are tight but I've never had a bad in-flight service or cabin crew flying Afrijet.
The flight only lasts one hour.