United Nigeria Airlines targets 25 destinations by 2026

By Chinelo Obogo    

United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has said that it is expanding its operations across the country, with plans to operate in 25 destinations by 2026.

Speaking at its fourth-anniversary celebration held in Abuja this week, the airline’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Osita Okonkwo, said that UNA had earlier added Benin, Kano, and Sokoto to its route network and is preparing to launch regional and international operations.

“We have made so much progress in the last four years, and we plan to expand our operations into 25 destinations by 2026. That is our goal, and we are working towards it,” he said.

Okonkwo highlighted the airline’s recent achievements, including the renewal of its operational certificate and the successful replacement of aircraft landing and nose gears by its engineers without foreign assistance—a feat he described as unprecedented in the industry. He also noted that UNA’s fleet expansion has led to the acquisition of new aircraft, further supporting its ambitious growth plans.

Reflecting on the state of Nigeria’s aviation sector, Okonkwo shared insights from his recent trip to Dublin for an international aviation conference, which had in attendance the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; the Acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo; domestic airlines; and many other stakeholders. He emphasized that Nigeria’s achievements were prominently featured during the event, marking a significant shift from previous years.

“I was in Dublin for the conference, and it was a good outing for Nigeria. We had a special session at the plenary, and for over an hour, the discussions focused on the positive strides Nigeria has made in aviation. This was a stark contrast to the first time I attended such a conference when Nigeria was barely mentioned. This time, all the presentations from the Aviation Working Group were positive,” Okonkwo said.

He said that during the session, the AWG praised Nigeria’s rating improvement from 45 to 75, which they described as unprecedented. He also noted a major achievement during a meeting with AerCap, one of the world’s largest aircraft leasing companies, where Nigeria was marketed as a potential aircraft registration hub.

“AerCap made it clear that they are now ready to deal with Nigeria. It’s now up to each operator to present their case, but the major impediments have been removed. There were two other seminars in Dublin, attended by banks, insurance companies, and lessors. Ireland is the global headquarters of aircraft leasing, and all the presentations about Nigeria were positive. The consensus was that Nigeria is good for business. We have many offers on the table, and this year will be one of achievement,” he said.

Okonkwo also addressed the challenges facing Nigerian airlines, particularly the persistent issue of sunset airports, which restrict operations to daytime.

“The airlines do not own the airports in Nigeria. We face significant limitations with sunset airports, which means you can only operate during the day. This greatly limits our operations,” he explained.

Despite these challenges, Okonkwo expressed optimism about Nigeria’s aviation sector, citing increased interest from international stakeholders and a positive outlook for growth.