United Nigeria Airlines, a new domestic carrier, has announced plans to connect more Nigerian cities with direct flights and improved services. The airline, which launched in February 2023, currently operates flights to nine destinations, including Enugu, Port Harcourt, Warri, Owerri, Asaba, Anambra, Bayelsa, Lagos and Abuja. It aims to add more routes to Sokoto, Kano, Jos, Benin and Ebonyi in the coming weeks.
The airline also took delivery of an Airbus A320 aircraft on Sunday, which will be deployed to upgrade its services on its expanding routes. The aircraft arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and was received with a water salute4. The airline said the addition of the Airbus is in line with its vision to unite more Nigerians with their destinations in safety and comfort5.
“Our chairman, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, had promised that United Nigeria Airlines would take delivery of an Airbus within the month of October with another one joining the fleet in early December. He had also hinted that two E190 aircraft types will also join the airline fleet in the first quarter of 2024. This is about value-addition,” said Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, the head of corporate communications of the airline.
United Nigeria Airlines is one of the few airlines that have emerged in Nigeria amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit the aviation sector hard. The airline said it has increased flight frequencies on all its routes, offering the traveling public more options for safe travels. It also said it has complied with all the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant authorities.
The airline’s expansion plans come at a time when Nigeria is facing a shortage of domestic flights and high fares due to low capacity and high demand. According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, domestic air passenger traffic dropped by 25.9% in 2022 compared to 2021. Many airlines have also reduced their operations or suspended some routes due to operational challenges and low patronage.
However, United Nigeria Airlines said it is optimistic about the future of the aviation industry in Nigeria and hopes to contribute to its growth and development. The airline said it is committed to providing quality service and customer satisfaction to its passengers and stakeholders.
“We are here to serve Nigerians and unite them with their destinations. We are here to make flying easy and affordable for everyone. We are here to create value and make a difference in the aviation sector,” Uchegbu said.
Source: Vanguard News
