Plans for Qatar Airways to support the establishment of a new national carrier in Benin, to be named Amazon Airlines, have emerged following a state visit to Doha by Benin's President Patrice Talon.
In a joint statement on May 19 following the visit, Qatar and Benin expressed "interest in enhancing cooperation in the aviation sector, including the possibility of cooperation between the two national carriers, Qatar Airways and Amazon Airlines".
The parties also want to explore establishing a direct flight between the two countries.
No formal agreement was confirmed. ch-aviation has contacted Qatar Airways for comment.
In 2019, the Beninoise government planned to launch a new national carrier, Air Bénin, following the renovation of Cotonou Cadjehoun airport and the construction of Glo Djigbé airport serving a newly developed industrial zone around 50 kilometres north of Cotonou.
However, in 2021, the government acquired a stake in privately-owned Benin Airlines (PL, Cotonou Cadjehoun), founded as Air Taxi Bénin in 2016. Benin Airlines is headed by Charles Gagnon, a local politician and a close cohort of President Talon. ADS-B data shows it operates two DHC-6-400 Twin Otters: TY-BAB (msn 983) stored in Cotonou, and TY-BAC (msn 990), last tracked operating to Lomé (Togo) on April 25, 2025.
