Maxime Dipina Christian Toe has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer to head Air Burkina following dismissal of Mr. Blaise Sanou. Mr. Sanou’s contract was terminated by the Council of Ministers of the government of Burkina Faso on April 27th 2022 following the Sunday April 24thincident,during which a fire broke out on one of the engines of the Embraer ERJ195 (XT – ABV MSN 19000067).
In his new duties, Maxime Dipina Christian Toe is tasked with revamping the airline which is currently experiencing difficulties and serious short comings relating to operations as indicated by the government. Deficit in debt, the National career is today without active planes as its 3 Embraer planes (two ERJ195 and one ERJ175), owned by the rental company Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) are all out of service. The health crisis has worsened supplier debts while salary arrears accumulate.
Among the issues awaiting Dipina Christian Toe is a controversial issue of partial privatization of Air Burkina. Started on October 20, 2020 following the partnership agreement with African Global Development (AGD), the process has stalled since then. In March 2021, American Group’s boss whose credibility arouses curiosity, was in Ouagadougou for the presentation of his five year plan, the outlines of which have not yet been revealed.
African Global Development had already promised during the signing of the partnership agreement to inject 250 billion FCFA equivalent to 452 million United States Dollars into the capital of Air Burkina for the acquisition of 12 planes including Airbus Aircraft, the launch of routes to Europe and the opening of an Aircraft maintenance center in Ouagadougou which is yet to be realized. The appointment of Mr. Maxime Dipina is seen as a fresh new beginning and a ray of hope for the resumption of Air Burkina.
