MOGADISHU — The true insult of the $400 to $450 exorbitant round-trip fares extracted from Somali passengers flying between Mogadishu and Nairobi is the physical environment they are forced to endure. The narrative recently sold to the public was that corporate consolidation and investment would modernize the aviation sector. The reality on the tarmac is a severe degradation of the passenger experience, where human beings are essentially transported as premium cargo.
To maximize their yield per flight, airlines on this route deploy smaller-capacity aircraft that have been aggressively retrofitted with high-density, six-across seating configurations. Even when carriers attempt to deflect criticism by claiming they are introducing newer aircraft into their fleets, the internal exploitation remains identical. These newer airframes are immediately modified upon acquisition to maximize capacity rather than comfort. Legroom is virtually non-existent, and seat widths are compressed to the absolute minimum to cram as many bodies into the fuselage as possible. Passengers are forced to fly squeezed and uncomfortable, entirely deprived of basic dignity. It is a highly calculated business model: charge full-service, intercontinental fares for a 90-minute regional flight, while delivering a sub-standard, budget-class physical experience.
The economic reality of the Mogadishu-Nairobi route is defined by predatory pricing structures. Carriers currently dominating the airspace command these $400 to $450 fares with absolute impunity. When analyzed through a strict cost-per-mile metric, Somali passengers are routinely paying long-haul rates for a brief regional hop.
This financial extraction is made possible entirely by a captive market. Unlike other routes within the East African Community (EAC) where robust competition drives down prices and elevates service quality, the Somali passenger—whether a medical patient, student, or cross-border trader has no viable terrestrial alternative. The airlines weaponize this reality. They extract a massive, artificial premium from a market that has stabilized, systematically draining capital from the local economy.
The consequences of prioritizing yield optimization over safety and proper fleet management recently culminated in a near-tragedy. On February 10, a passenger aircraft operated by Starsky Aviation experienced a critical technical failure shortly after takeoff from Aden Adde International Airport, overshooting the runway and crashing near the Indian Ocean shoreline. Miraculously, all 55 people on board survived the impact.
In response, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) suspended the operations of multiple aircraft on February 16, revoking their air operator certificates after ramp inspections revealed severe deficiencies and non-compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
However, this regulatory crackdown exposes a deeply reactive system. Grounding aircraft only after a passenger plane ends up in the surf is a failure of oversight. The airlines are charging top-tier rates but effectively gambling with human lives rather than reinvesting their massive profits into safe, properly maintained, and passenger-appropriate fleets.
This systemic exploitation highlights a glaring inconsistency in national aviation policy. Over recent months, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has taken commendable, aggressive action to improve airport infrastructure. He personally conducted high-profile inspections at Aden Adde Airport, demanding functional air conditioning, clean sanitation facilities, and the immediate cessation of illicit fees. He is fiercely defending the dignity of the Somali traveler inside the building.
Yet, there is a profound political blind spot. Demanding a world-class terminal experience is utterly futile if the government allows citizens to be extorted and crammed into modified, high-density aircraft the moment they step onto the tarmac. The government’s outrage must extend past the boarding gate.
As Somalia cements its integration into the broader EAC framework, regulatory bodies like the SCAA must shift from reactive grounding to proactive enforcement. Airlines operating in Somali airspace must be legally compelled to provide standard seating dimensions, cap predatory pricing, and undergo rigorous, unannounced safety audits. Somali citizens pay premium rates; they have the absolute right to fly safely and with dignity.
