Yemen’s airline start-up Sama sanctioned by the USA

OFAC applied sanctions over alleged Houthi links.
The company presented itself as a Yemeni airline with A320-200 fleet.
Incorporation occurred in 2023 but no operations materialised.
The designation restricted any financial or business dealings.
The airline remained dormant without regulatory compliance evidence.

The United States Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated Sama Airline a dormant Yemeni company for alleged ties to the Houthi militia controlling northwestern Yemen.

The company incorporated in 2023 and claimed on its website 100pc Yemeni capital backing under Yemeni Civil Aviation regulations with an A320-200 fleet. No further operational information existed and the company appeared inactive.

The sanctions targeted the start-up due to purported militia connections. Sama Airline lacked visible activity or fleet evidence.

United States Office of Foreign Assets Control shared in a written statement “The United States Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated Sama Airline a dormant Yemeni company which purports to be an airline for its alleged ties to the Houthi militia controlling the northwestern part of the country.”