Côte d’Ivoire Retires Its Only ACJ319, Replaces with ACJ320

The government of Côte d’Ivoire has officially retired its sole Airbus ACJ319-100, TU-VAS (msn 2192), replacing it with a newer ACJ320-200N. The aircraft’s retirement marks the end of a decade-long service as the nation’s VIP transport.

The ACJ319 was last active on July 3, 2023, flying from Abidjan to Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg under the ‘IVY’ code. It was subsequently handed over to AMAC Aerospace for storage and maintenance. Recently, between November 30 and December 1, 2024, the jet was ferried to Tucson International via Shannon and Detroit under the ‘OMD’ code, managed by Nomadic Aviation Group.

At 20.6 years old, the aircraft was initially delivered to SCM Aruba directly from Airbus Corporate Jets and had been in service with Côte d’Ivoire’s government since 2014. Its retirement aligns with the government’s decision to modernize its fleet, highlighted by the acquisition of the ACJ320-200N as a direct replacement.

In addition to the new ACJ320, Côte d’Ivoire maintains a fleet of Gulfstream jets for VIP operations, including a G450, G550, and GIV-SP. This fleet upgrade underscores the country’s commitment to ensuring reliable and modern air transport for government officials.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com