Liberia Unveils 20-Year Plan to Modernise Civil Aviation Sector

The Liberia Civil Aviation Authority has launched an ambitious 20-year roadmap aimed at rebuilding and modernising the country’s aviation sector, outlining a long-term vision for safety, infrastructure, and human capital development. The Civil Aviation Master Plan for 2025–2045 is designed to align Liberia’s aviation system with international standards while supporting broader economic growth and regional connectivity.

In a statement announcing the plan, LCAA director-general Julius D. Dennis Jr. said the strategy is built around three core pillars. The first is strengthening aviation safety and regulatory oversight, ensuring compliance with global norms set by international aviation bodies. The second pillar focuses on modernising aviation infrastructure, including airports, air navigation services, and supporting facilities. The third centres on building local technical capacity through targeted training programmes and partnerships with international aviation institutions.

Beyond these pillars, the master plan also highlights the importance of improved air connectivity and environmental sustainability. Authorities say enhancing Liberia’s links to regional and intercontinental markets will be critical for trade, tourism, and investment, while sustainability measures are intended to future-proof the sector amid tightening global environmental expectations.

Liberia’s aviation industry faces significant structural challenges. The country currently has no functioning domestic commercial airlines, leaving internal air connectivity extremely limited. International air services to Monrovia are provided exclusively by foreign carriers, including Ethiopian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Kenya Airways, Air Peace, Royal Air Maroc, and Air Côte d’Ivoire, all of which operate international flights to Roberts International Airport.

The absence of a national or domestic carrier reflects decades of instability and financial strain. Liberia’s former national airline, Air Liberia, collapsed by 2006 following years of civil conflict, governance issues, and mounting financial losses. A later attempt to revive a flag carrier under the public-private Lone Star Air initiative in 2020 also failed to achieve sustainable operations.

Officials acknowledge that rebuilding confidence in Liberia’s aviation sector will require consistent policy execution, regulatory credibility, and sustained investment. The master plan is intended to provide a clear framework for attracting development partners and private investors by offering long-term visibility and defined priorities.

Industry observers note that while the 20-year horizon underscores the scale of the challenge, it also signals a commitment to gradual, realistic progress rather than short-term fixes. If successfully implemented, the plan could lay the groundwork for the eventual return of domestic air services, improved safety oversight, and stronger integration of Liberia into regional and global air transport networks.

The LCAA said implementation will be phased, with progress monitored against international benchmarks, as Liberia seeks to rebuild its aviation sector from the ground up.

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