The list of Nigerian local airlines that currently have an air operator’s certificate issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. We would briefly talk about each of the airlines, providing information on their ownership, fleet size, and scope of operations, among various other things. Read on.
This is a list of Nigerian local airlines:
- Aero Contractors
Aero Contractors is one of the long-lasting local airlines that have been in business for over 50 years. Currently, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria holds 60% of the airline’s shares while the Ibru family holds the remaining 40%.
This boasts a fleet comprising 7 aircraft which cover a domestic network of 13 cities including Uyo, Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Abuja, among others. Aside from scheduled passenger flights, Aero Contractors also offer helicopter services, air charter, and third-party aircraft operation
- Air Peace
Air Peace where Allen Onyema sits as the CEO is one of the largest private airlines in the country. This airline with 17 aircraft of which 8 of them are operational operates both domestic and international scheduled flights.
Cameroon, China, Gambia, Ghana, India, United Arab Emirates, Senegal, Liberia, Israel, and Niger all belong to the international destinations of Air Peace. On the domestic front, Abuja, Benin City, Lagos, Warri, Yola, and Calabar, are some of the destinations of this airline.
- Allied Air
Allied Air is a Lagos-based cargo airline that is operating out of Murtala Mohammed International Airport. This airline with a fleet size of 4 aircraft including 3 Boeing 737-400F (of which one is operating for DHL Aviation) and Boeing 737-800F, operates scheduled and charter services throughout Nigeria.
The key scheduled destinations of Allied Air include Entebbe (Uganda), Liege (Belgium), Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Monrovia (Liberia), Accra (Ghana), and Freetown (Sierra Leone). Val Tongo occupying the position of CEO is the key person of Allied Air.
- Arik Air
Arik Air is a local airline that commenced operation in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2006 and operates out of Murtala Mohammed International Airport (main hub) and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria holds the majority of the ownership of this airline with Captain Roy Illegbodu being the key person at the helm of affairs.
Arik Air has a fleet of 14 aircraft covering 16 destinations including a domestic network mainly across Nigeria and several other Western African countries.
- Azman Air
Azman Air is a privately owned local airline established by Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina and operates scheduled domestic passenger services. Azman Air has a fleet of 6 aircraft which include 1 Airbus A340-600, 2 Boeing 737-200, and 3 Boeing 737-500.
The airline’s operating base is Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and from there serves a network of 11 destinations including Abuja, Asaba, Benin City, Birnin Kebbi, Gombe, Lagos, Maiduguri, Owerri, Port Harcourt, and Kano.
- Dana Air
Dana Air is another local airline in Nigeria. Though founded in 2008, it recently began scheduled passenger flight operations again in 2022. This airline’s main hub is the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
Dana Air’s fleet consists of 2 Boeing 737-300, 1 McDonnel Douglas MD-82, and 5 McDonnel Douglas MD-83. The cities under the domestic network Of this airline include Abuja, Enugu, Lagos, Owerri, Port Harcourt, and Uyo.
- Dornier Aviation Nigeria
Unlike most of the local airlines in Nigeria, Dornier Aviation Nigeria does not operate scheduled passenger flight services. Instead, the airline operates a charter service, fixed base and maintenance operation, agricultural flying, aerial photography, and emergency medical evacuation services.
Currently, the airline has a fleet of 5 aircraft, with the Old Kaduna Airport being its hub. The fleet consists of 5 Dornier 328-100 aircraft.
- Green Africa Airways
Green Africa is among the most recent local airlines in Nigeria having commenced operations in August 2021. The main operational base of this airline is the Murtala Mohammed Airport. This airline is owned by Babawande Afolabi.
The airline currently operates 3 ATR 72-600 aircraft which are used to render scheduled domestic passenger flights across Nigeria, particularly Abuja, Akure, Enugu, Ilorin, Lagos, Owerri, and Port Harcourt.
- Ibom Air
Ibom Air became the first local airline in Nigeria to be owned by a State government when the Akwa Ibom State government established the airline in 2019. The main hub of this airline is the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo.
The airline boasts 2 Airbus A220-300 and 5 Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft which are used for scheduled passenger flights. The focus cities of Ibom Air’s domestic network include Uyo, Lagos, Abuja, Calabar, Enugu, and Port Harcourt.
- Kabo Air
Kabo Air is one kd the oldest local airlines in Nigeria which has been in existence since 1980 when Dr Muhammadu Dankabo established it. The airline, however, hasn’t been in constant operation since it commenced operation in 1981. In 2016, operations ceased but soon resumed a few years later.
Kabo Air is now strictly a charter airline as domestic flights stopped in 2001, with pilgrim flights being its major operation. The airline has a single Boeing 747-400 aircraft.
- Max Air
Max Air is a local airline in Nigeria that operates both domestic and international scheduled passenger flights. This airline has its hub at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State. The fleet of Max Air aircraft includes 7 Boeing 737-300, 3 Boeing 747- 400, and 1 Embraer ERJ-145.
The domestic network this airline focuses on includes Abuja, Bauchi, Benin City, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Maiduguri, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, and Yola. Jeddah and Madinah, which are cities in Saudi Arabia, are the international destinations Max Air covers.
- Overland Airways
This airline has its main hub as the MMA Airport, Lagos, with the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja being the secondary hub. Overland Airways boasts a fleet size that consists of 4 ATR 42, 3 ATR 72, and 2 Beechcraft 1900D.
The focus domestic destinations that this airline serves include Abuja, Akure, Asaba, Bauchi, Dutse, Ibadan, Ilorin, Jalingo, and Ikeja.
- United Nigeria Airlines
This airline is a subsidiary of Professor Obiorah Okonkwo’s United Nigeria Airlines Limited.
The airline has 4 Embraer ERJ-145LR aircraft which are used for scheduled passenger flights services to Abuja, Anambra, Enugu, Lagos, Osubi (Delta), Owerri, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa.
- ValueJet Nigeria