The Nigerian government has selected Ethiopian Airlines as the technical partner and core investor for Nigeria’s national airline, Nigeria Air. This selection is made ahead of the operational launch date of June 2023. The flight operations were initially scheduled for April 2022. The Nigerian government received the Air Transport Licence (ATL) from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in June 2022. The permit is valid from June 3, 2022, till June 2, 2027.
Ethiopian will have a 49% stake in the airline in which it will provide aircraft, technical personnel, and management for the airline, but wouldn’t invest any cash. The Nigerian government will have a 5% stake in the airline, with the rest being sold to private Nigerian investors. The airline would initially fly Dash 8 and Boeing 737 aircraft on regional routes.
According to sources, the government wanted more airlines to bid for the project, but only Ethiopian Airlines expressed interest. “Ethiopian Airlines has the equipment needed for the start-up of the new national carrier, Nigeria Air. It has many Bombardiers Dash 8 aircraft, which would be the equipment that would be deployed with the additional deployment of a few Boeing B737 NG aircraft. The airline is most prepared to support the Nigerian government to actualize its national carrier ambition,” a source familiar with the matter said.
The Nigerian government had revealed ambitious plans of forming Nigeria Air during the Farnborough Airshow in July 2018. It included new branding along with the ‘bringing Nigeria closer to the world’, slogan. The airline was supposed to serve 84 destinations within years.