In the past years, We Nigerians have enjoyed the luxury of air transport with different public and private-owned airlines in various states in Nigeria.
Some of these airlines have acquired quality aircraft more than the others, setting a more comfortable environment for their customers traveling from one place to another. The definition of an airline is a company that provides transport on airplanes for people and things. A company that has a fleet of airplanes that provides flights for passengers is an example of an airline. A company that flies airplanes to transport people and goods.
Auchijeffblog have gathered below the major airlines operating in Nigeria 2023.
Top 10 Major Airline Operating in Nigeria
- Air Peace
- Dana Air
- Arik Air
- Medview Airline
- First Nation Air
- Azman Air
- Overland Air
- Max Air
- Allied Air
- Ibom Air
1. AIR PEACE
Air Peace is a private Nigerian airline founded in 2013 with its head office in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, the flag carrier and the largest airline of Nigeria and West Africa. Air Peace, which provides passenger and charter services, serves the major cities of Nigeria and flies to several West African destinations and the Middle East. The airline also established a subsidiary, Air Peace Hopper, in 2018.
As of April 2021, Air Peace flies to the following destinations in Nigeria, west Africa, South Africa and United Arab Emirates On January 31, 2020, Air Peace announced two new destinations in India and Israel would be activated before the end of the year.
Air Peace also operated ad hoc charter flights from Lagos to Montego Bay in Jamaica during the Christmas 2020 season. The airline provides three different classes for customers to choose from Business Class, Premium Class, and Premium Economy Class, each with its own set of advantages.
AirPeace Airlines has a dedicated workforce, including experienced pilots and cabin employees, to ensure that your journey is enjoyable. Although there have been some incident in the past years, but still yet Air peace still remain the number one most used airlines in Nigeria.
2. DANA AIR
Dana Air was a Nigerian airline headquartered in Ikeja and based out of Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Dana Air is a Nigerian airline offering domestic flights within Nigeria.
The airline is based at Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) and offers flights to five destinations across Nigeria. Dana Air is a hybrid airline that offers flights that have the safety and quality onboard services of a legacy carrier but also the efficiency and price of a low-cost carrier. The airline was founded in 2008 and launched its first flights in the same year. With both an Economy Class and Business Class cabin, the airline provides a service for passengers that are travelling for both leisure and business. As well as scheduled flights, Dana Air also offers charter flights from Lagos.
In May 2021, Dana Air teamed-up with Ibom Air to launch the first-ever domestic airline codeshare agreement by Nigerian airlines. In July 2022, the airline had both its license and certificate suspended by the Nigerian authorities after it was deemed financially unfit to maintain operations.
Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) is the major airport serving Lagos, Nigeria and the hub airport for Dana Air. All passengers are allowed one piece of carry-on baggage. This baggage must not exceed 6 kg in weight and must fit within the dimensions of 45cm x 33cm x 20cm (17.1″ x 12.9″ x 7.8″).
3. ARIK AIR
Arik Air is a Nigerian airline operating mainly from two hubs at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Arik Air’s head office is the Arik Air Aviation Center on the grounds of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja. Arik Air has built up a domestic network covering mainly Nigerian and several other Western African destinations. It previously also served more distant and intercontinental destinations in the United Kingdom and the United States.
It is speculated by many to be another attempt to re-establish a national airline by AMCON, even though they have officially dissociated any relations with the plans; stating that they were going to make a start-up airline. Flying with Arik Air will exceed all expectations of onboard flight experience with the help of a professionally trained staff dedicated to providing top-notch service.
Arik Air offers local, regional and international flights from West and Central Africa to top destinations. Arik Air also offers flights within Nigeria, including flights to Maiduguri and Bauchi as well as to South Africa, Europe, and North America. Arik Air’s vast flight network avails travellers a huge range of flight itinerary ideal for their calendar. Whether you’re flying to Ilorin for business or flying to Makurdi for leisure, you won’t be disappointed flying Arik airlines.
4. MEDVIEW AIRLINE
MedView Airline is a domestic and regional airline based at the Murtala Muhammed International in Lagos. The airline is the only Nigerian airline to be listed in the List of air carriers banned in the European Union.
The Airline had previously operated nine domestic and nine international scheduled destinations in states across Nigeria, West Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Med-View Airline rewards its frequent and loyal travelers with a frequent flyer rewards programme called The Blue Flyer. The more miles you fly, the more tickets you earn to use towards different levels of benefits and privileges including VIP lounge access, priority boarding, advanced check-in and transfers, extra baggage allowance, and priority flight reservation wait list for travel.
5. FIRST NATION AIRWAYS
First Nation Airways Limited was a Nigerian airline with its headquarters in Lagos and base at Murtala Mohammed Airport. FirstNation Airways (SS) Limited is a privately owned, passenger airline. It commenced daily flights to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in October 2013 and planned an additional aircraft expansion in 2019 to 2020.
In May 2018 however, the Nigerian authorities suspended the airlines operations as her two aircraft were ferried out on maintenance check As of June 2019, the airline did not resume any flights as they are still undergoing recertification process. The First Nation Airways fleet consisted of the following aircraft As of August 2018: In September 2020, One of First Nation’s A319, with registration 5N-FNE was scrapped.
First Nation Airways served the following destinations: Abuja – Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Lagos – Murtala Mohammed International Airport base, Port Harcourt – Port Harcourt International Airport
6. AZMAN AIRWAYS
Azman Air Services Limited is a Nigerian based domestic airline company. Established in 2010 by businessman Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, the airline operates scheduled domestic passenger services with its main base in Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
Azman Air was established in 2010, and began operations in 2014 with its first commercial flight to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, on 15 May 2014 from Kano. The airline began operations in Nigeria with 2 Boeing 737-500 aircraft for its domestic services.
In October 2017, Azman Air leased a used Airbus A330 from an Egyptian charter airline the now defunct Air Leisure which would be used to fly to international routes to both the Middle East and Asia. The airline has since discontinued leasing the A330, and, as of 8 February 2020, is only flying domestic routes within Nigeria.
Azman Air Services Limited launches its first in-flight quarterly magazine titled Fly Safe Magazine on August 15, 2020. The magazine was released after the resumption of domestic operations in Nigeria. It was first sighted in the airline’s headquarters as free copies were shared among staff and passengers. Fly Safe Magazine is published by the Nigerian company Zamkah Technologies Limited.
7. OVERLAND AIRWAYS
Overland Airways is an airline based in Ikeja, Lagos State. Its main base is Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, with a hub at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The airline commenced operations in 2002 and has 194 employees. The Nigerian government set a deadline of 30 April 2007 for all airlines operating in the country to re-capitalise or be grounded, in an effort to ensure better services and safety. The airline satisfied the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)’s criteria in terms of re-capitalization and was re-registered for operation.
On 12 October 2018, an Overland Airways ATR 72-202 suffered severe damage after a fire erupted during maintenance at a hangar in Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The fire was caused by the Ground Power Unit being struck by the propeller blades of the aircraft after the engine was started inside the hangar. No injuries were reported.
8. MAX AIRWAYS
Max Air is a domestic and international airline based in Nigeria, the country’s longest-serving international airline. Established in 2008 by business mogul Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, the company’s head office is located in Kano State with its base at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
Max Air is one of Nigeria’s leading airline operating a domestic, regional and international flight network. The airline was established in 2006 as Mangal Airlines an rebranded Max Air in 2008 operating its first commercial flight to King Abdulaziz International Airport from Kano. The airline began its operations with two Boeing 747-400 aircraft for its Umrah and Hajj operation services.
In June 2018, Max Air began domestic operations to three destinations which include Abuja, Lagos from the airline’s main hub (Kano). On November 1, 2018, Max Air announces two new routes to its domestic operations which include Port Harcourt and Yola as part of its expansion drive. On November 5, Maiduguri route was launched by the airline, making it the 6th domestic destination to its operational routes. Max Air is being operating in seven domestic and 2 international scheduled destinations in states across Nigeria and the Middle East (as of August 2019).
9. ALLIED AIRWAYS
Allied Air is a cargo airline based in Lagos, Nigeria. It operates scheduled and charter services in Nigeria and throughout Africa. Its main base is Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
The airline commenced operations in 2002 and has 194 employees. The Nigerian government set a deadline of 30 April 2007 for all airlines operating in the country to re-capitalise or be grounded, in an effort to ensure better services and safety. The airline satisfied the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)’s criteria in terms of re-capitalization and was re-registered for operation.
The airline was established in 1998. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) set a deadline of April 30, 2007 for all airlines operating in the country to re-capitalise or be grounded. Allied Air successfully re-capitalised and was registered for operation.Allied Air is a designated cargo airline which is based in Lagos in Nigeria. It operates charter services which are scheduled in Nigeria and continues throughout Africa. It has a main base which is located in Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. The scheduled destinations of this airline are Accra, Freetown, Monrovia, Entebbe, and Malabo amongst others. It also provides the people with regular airline services to Liege.
Allied Air has an impressive Transit Cargo and Warehouse Facilities which are equipped with the best and the state of the art equipment. They have a very high skilled and well motivated workforce. This workforce runs the Flight Operations, Technical Records, Engineering, Training and Cargo Document Processing Departments.The Allied Air airline currently employs 120 staffs which includes flight crew. Allied Air has offices in several locations throughout Nigeria and has overseas offices in London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
10. IBOM AIR
Ibom Air is a Nigerian airline based in Uyo. The airline was founded in 2019 operates scheduled flights from its hub at Akwa Ibom Airport to a small number of destinations within Nigeria.
The airline is named after the Akwa Ibom state in Nigeria.Akwa Ibom Airport is a small regional airport which serves Uyo, the capital of the Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. The airport was upgraded in 2012 to include an international terminal and additional taxiways. Currently, the airport operates flights to Abuja and Lagos with airlines such as Arik Air, Air Peace and Dana Air.
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