Pop Quiz: Which 14 Countries Don’t Have Their Own Airline?
OK housebound aviation enthusiasts, it’s time for a little trivia. Can you name the fourteen countries without their own airline? We’ve got them listed below, but before you read the list, quiz yourself. Then, read through the list and let us know how you did in the comments section.
Ready? OK, here we go: the following independent nations have no air carrier based within their borders.
Author’s Note: .To clarify, this list consists of countries that do not have an airline based in them (regardless if they’re the flag carrier or not), so Wizz would count since it is based in Hungary, Proflight Zambia is in Zambia, Int’Air Iles is in Comoros, and so on. Sorry for the confusion! If I missed any please add it in the comments!
Andorra
Andorra is a tiny principality situated between France and Spain. The country does not have an airport of its own, so it does not have its own airline. The only way to access the nation is via automobile, and the closest airports are in Barcelona, Spain, or Toulouse, France – both of which are about 200 km away.
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Caribbean Countries
Of the 13 independent Caribbean countries, Barbados, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia do not have an airline. Barbados and the Dominican Republic have both had airlines in the past – Carib Express, REDjet, and Trans Island Air in Barbados and PAWA Dominicana in the D.R., but all have ceased operations. Jamaica has also had its fair share of failed airlines, including Air Jamaica and Fly Jamaica Airways. However, it might be getting a new airline in the near future – Fly Oriole.
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Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau is a West African country with a single airport that connects it to the world. However, the country has not had an airline since 1998 when its flag carrier, Air Bissau, ceased operations.
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Liberia
Like Guinea-Bissau, Liberia also has a single commercial airport, but no national carrier. Air Liberia was headquartered within the nation’s borders until 1990 when it went under.
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Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a small principality located between Austria and Switzerland. Like Andorra, it does not have an airport, so it does not have an airline. The closest airports to the country are in Friedrichshafen, Germany 92 km away, and Zurich, Switzerland 115 km away.
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Micronesia
Continental Micronesia (formerly known as Air Micronesia) used to exist in Micronesia as a subsidiary of Continental Airlines but eventually combined its operating certificate with Continental Airlines when Continental and United merged.
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San Marino
San Marino is a micronation landlocked in North-Central Italy. Like Andorra and Liechtenstein, the country does not have an airport, and therefore no airline. The closest airport is 16 km away in Rimini, Italy.
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Tuvalu
Tuvalu is a South Pacific island nation located in the British Commonwealth. It has never had its own airline but does have a single airport served by Fiji Airways.
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Vatican City
Vatican City is a city-state located in Rome, Italy. It is only 109 acres, so it lacks both an airport and an airline, but can be accessed via Rome Ciampino Airport.
Dominican Republic: Air Century have a reasonable network around the Caribbean flying Saab 340 and CRJs.
I was all set to jump in with LIAT, which is jointly owned by several East Caribbean island nations, but It's based in Antigua & Barbuda, so only that nation gets to claim it under the "based within its borders" rules of the game. You're right. LIAT = Leave Island Any Time ... Luggage In Another Terminal ... Let's Investigate Alternative Transportation ...
Hi everyone. To clarify, this list consists of countries that do not have an airline based in them (regardless if they’re the flag carrier or not), so Wizz would count since it is based in Hungary, Proflight Zambia is in Zambia, Int’Air Iles is in Comoros, and so on. Sorry for the confusion! If I missed any please add it in the comments!
Ghana - both Ghana Airways and it’s quasi-successor Ghana International Airways have ceased operations. As long as we know this is not a comprehensive list then al good!
Timor-Leste. There is Air Timor, but they don't operate any aircraft Isle of Man. No airline since the demise of Manx Airlines.