Nigeria Air, the new proposed new flag carrier of Nigeria, has taken delivery of its first aircraft, local newspaper The Punch has .
The arrival of the aircraft, which landed in Nigerian capital Abuja on May 26, 2023, is part of the plan to commence the flag carrier精东影业 operations, according to Nigeria精东影业 Aviation Minster Hadi Sirika.
In an interview with on May 24, 2023, Sirika said that Nigeria Air would commence operations before May 29, 2023, the end of the administration of Nigeria精东影业 outgoing president, Muhammadu Buhari.
Sirika added that upon the arrival of the aircraft on May 26, 2023, the aircraft livery in 鈥淣igeria Air colors鈥 would be unveiled, after which the aircraft would be retrofitted.
Nigeria Air launch met with pushback
However, the launch of Nigeria Air, which had been prolonged due to a prior lawsuit filed by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), has received further pushback from member airlines of the AON.
In a letter seeking to halt Nigeria Air commencing operations, AON members have asked Nigeria精东影业 outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari, to halt the 鈥渋llegal鈥 attempt by Nigeria精东影业 Aviation Minister that seeks to 鈥渃ircumvent the court orders on Friday being the last working day of this administration and possibly to cover up the various infractions of Nigerian laws, among others,鈥 reported The Punch.
According to the report. the AON noted that flying two aircraft in Nigeria Air livery 鈥榠s a clever way to violate court orders.鈥
Nigeria Air receives nod from Ethiopian Airlines Boss on readiness for launch
The arrival of Nigeria Air精东影业 first aircraft to follows a recent announcement by Ethiopian Airlines (ET) CEO Mesfin Tasew, confirming that the new proposed flag carrier was ready for launch, despite the lawsuit obstacles.
On April 13, 2023, in a podcast interview with Insight Africa精东影业 host and CEO, Jon Howel, Tasew confirmed that 鈥渆xcellent progress鈥 had been made towards Nigeria Air精东影业 establishment and that ET had already agreed 鈥渙n nearly all terms鈥 with all stakeholders in the new carrier.
Jon Howell, the Founder and CEO of AviaDev Ltd and Podcast host of AviaDev Insight Africa.
AviaDev is the premier platform dedicated to growing connectivity to, from, and within the African continent.
鈥淲e have already agreed with all the consortium of shareholders who will participate in setting up the airline [and] we have also reached [an] agreement with the Nigerian government on nearly all terms,鈥 said Tasew.
