Nigeria Air could be the latest new airline if Nigeria manage to strike a deal with a foreign investor. Nigeria has no limit to the stake an overseas owner can have in an airline, so a majority percentage could be up for grabs.
Nigeria has seen how both knowledge and capital are vital for the survival of new airlines and so it’s looking for both in a foreign backer.
Who will this investor be?
Rumor has it that there are several airlines interested in this offer. Hadi Sirika, the Nigerian Aviation Minister has been in talks with the heads of some large airlines including Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise. Ethiopian Air is Africa’s only airline that makes a consistent profit, so it’s good to see them showing an interest in this venture. The Ethiopian airline currently serves 60 cities across Africa, and a further 70 internationally. Additionally, the airline already holds stakes in other airlines in Togo and Malawi, and has announced that it is looking to further expand the business.
Plans for Nigeria Air
There are some interesting plans already in the pipeline for this new venture. It has been stated that within four years the airline will operate 30 planes across 80 routes, with around 50% of those routes being international.
In the shorter term, it is hoped that Nigeria Air will start flying 15 leased aircraft from December this year. There are currently talks ongoing to secure a deal with Boeing and Airbus to buy new jets for both domestic and long haul flights. Inter-continental flights are set to start midway through 2019 if all goes to plan. The tail design for the Nigeria Air planes will be a swirl of white and green that represents an eagle.
A rise back to domination?
Nigeria used to hold a good position within the aviation industry, but with the demise of Nigeria Airways back in 2003, followed by the close of Air Nigeria in 2012 this was lost. Aviation Minister Sirika recently stated that Nigeria has both a huge need and a huge desire for a national airline.
The future could be bright
If an investor is found, with deep pockets and a lot of expertise, there’s no reason why Nigeria Air shouldn’t be a success. With a population of around 200 million, there’s certainly plenty of people in Nigeria to use and support their own national airline.
John is a passionate traveler who has traveled to over 46 countries on more than 30 different airlines. He loves surfing, booking hotels and flights using his frequent flyers points, and exploring new cultures. John lives in London.
