Central Africa’s Simb Airlines takes first E145

Simb Airlines (Bangui) took delivery of the first of two E145s on January 4, 2022, as it seeks to expand its business charter operations.

N261BC (msn 145082) was ferried from Fort Pierce via Bangor, Goose Bay, Narsarsuaq, Reykjavik Keflavik, Shannon, Casablanca Int’l, and Niamey to Bangui over the course of January 2-4, 2022. As of January 5, it is still registered in the United States, although it has already been painted in the Central African carrier’s livery. The 23.2-year-old regional jet was previously operated by IBC Airways (II, Miami Int’l), the ch-aviation fleets history module shows.

Chief Executive Jacques Assoumou, who was Chief Operations Officer at Trans Air Congo – TAC (Q8, Pointe Noire), told Times Aerospace that the business charter specialist would acquire a second E145 shortly and intended “to grow over two to three years.” He did not provide any details concerning the future fleet plans.

Thus far, Simb Airlines has operated a single VIP-configured Beech (twin turboprop) King Air 200. The carrier is backed by Cameroonian businessman Emile Parfait Sim.