Air Afrique was a multinational African airline jointly owned by eleven francophone West and Central African states, including Ivory Coast, Senegal, Cameroon, and others. Founded in 1961, it operated as a symbol of post-colonial African unity and cooperation, providing international and regional air services across Africa and to Europe. At its peak, Air Afrique operated a substantial route network connecting major African capitals with Paris and other European destinations, serving as a flagship carrier for its member nations. The airline was headquartered in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and maintained a significant presence at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport. Decades of financial mismanagement, political interference, overstaffing, and mounting debt led to the airline's decline. Despite repeated restructuring attempts, Air Afrique ceased operations in February 2002, leaving a significant gap in pan-African aviation and stranding thousands of passengers.