The Malawian Ministry of Transport and Public Works has announced it has awarded Kwacha Airlines (Lilongwe International) an Air Services Licence (ASL) to operate both domestic and international passenger and cargo flights.

According to The Malawi Post, the start-up is backed by three locals namely James Makunje Jnr, Chris Kapanga Jnr and Noel Chalamanda.

The carrier has since issued a statement indicating it plans to complete certification and launch on September 1, 2018, using B737-700 equipment. Further details are to be announced in due course.

Malawi is currently home to the Ethiopian Airlines-backed Malawi Airlines (3W, Lilongwe International) which operates one Dash 8-400 and one B737-700 on domestic flights between Lilongwe International and Blantyre as well as to Dar es Salaam, Harare International, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, Lusaka, and Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta regionally.

Ulendo Airlink (Lilongwe International) offers scheduled flights to several Malawian resort towns as well as to Mfuwe in Zambia using Cessna (single turboprop) 208B Grand Caravan and other light aircraft.