ASKY Airlines has postponed the launch of its Kano service after some passengers who had booked the planned flights cancelled their reservations over concerns about travelling through Niamey, according to a report by ATQ News.
The Lome-based carrier had scheduled the Kano service to begin on September 2, 2026, with the planned operation linking Lome Niamey and Kano three times a week. The service was to be operated with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
ATQ News reported that passengers who had booked the Kano service expressed concerns about the Niamey routing amid the current regional situation and subsequently cancelled their reservations. The report said the cancellations prompted ASKY to delay the start of the service as the airline considers alternative operational arrangements.
ASKY said the decision was taken to safeguard passenger safety, comfort and confidence, while stressing that the postponement does not amount to a withdrawal from the Kano hub
Our teams are actively working on alternative operational arrangements to ensure a smooth and reliable launch, and we will share further updates as soon as they are confirmed, the airline said according to ATQ News.
The airline had earlier positioned Kano as its 31st destination, with the new service expected to connect the northern Nigerian city to its Lome hub and provide onward connections to destinations across West and Central Africa.
The planned route will give Kano passengers another regional air connection while supporting movement between northern Nigeria, Niger and other markets on ASKY’s network.
However, the postponement means passengers will have to wait for ASKY to announce a new commencement date as of the latest reports, the airline has not provided a new date for the launch.
The delay also leaves the final operating arrangement for the Kano service open, as ASKY said it was considering alternative operational arrangements before commencing the route.
Kano is one of northern Nigeria’s major commercial centres, and the proposed service had been presented by ASKY as a way of improving the city’s links with regional markets and its wider African network. The airline had said the route would support trade, tourism and regional mobility between Nigeria and Niger.
