Carrier is set to be managed by Ethiopian Airlines.
There are talks in the international aviation circle that controversial Air Nigeria, the proposed national carrier the government of former president Muhammadu Buhari spent billions of dollars without birthing before leaving office, is ready to embark on flight operations in October this year and still under the management of Ethiopian Airlines, per monitored report on Simple Flying and Within Nigeria.
The airline has been on the drawing board since 2018 when it was first introduced at an aviation show known as the Farnborough International Airshow.
But when it takes to the skies it would be owned 49 percent by Ethiopian Airlines, 46 percent by Nigerian private investors, and five percent by the federal government.
Ethiopian Airlines have been brought into the operation on a management contract in order to replicate their own successful business model of operations into Nigeria Air’s operations and make it a successful airline.
The carrier will commence operations with a fleet of eight aircraft. Of these aircraft, six will be narrowbody aircraft, while the remaining two aircraft will be widebody.
Earlier this year, the carrier took delivery of its first aircraft, which is a Boeing 737-800 with retrofitted wingtips from Ethiopian Airlines, on May 26th. At the time, however, the plan was to try and commence operations by May 29th.
The airline’s aim is to operate flights within the domestic market and to international markets in order to provide air connectivity for Nigerians.
Obstacles in the way
While clearly a lot of work has been done towards trying to get Nigeria Air operational, it has previously been severely slowed down by various obstacles which kept delaying its operation commencement.
In October 2022, other local carriers in Nigeria were opposed to Ethiopian Airlines taking a majority stake in the airline that is set to be the national airline of the country.
The Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) had insisted that Ethiopia is an economic rival, and thus, a 49 percent stake in Nigeria’s national airline could potentially increase Ethiopian Airlines’ influence in the domestic market and the Nigerian economy.
The CEO of Air Peace went as far as to state that Ethiopian Airlines would try and destroy the competition among the Nigerian carriers.
Another major obstacle the startup faces is obtaining its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) which was denied to the airline earlier this year in May by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The denial of the AOC was following a lawsuit from the AON. The airline will not be issued the AOC until it can demonstrate its safety.
The delay was not helped by Azman Air, Air Peace, and United Nigeria Airlines launching a court case, through the AON, against Nigeria Air regarding the involvement of Ethiopian Airlines as a foreign majority stakeholder.
Ultimately the court ruled in favour of the AON and issued an order to the NCAA director general, which stopped him from issuing the AOC for Nigeria Air. The order additionally prohibits the director general from taking any further actions with regard to launching the new carrier.
