Just 48 hours before the new administration’s May 29 inauguration, the federal government introduced Nigeria Air on Friday, five years after the airline’s London start.
Speaking at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the departing minister of aviation, Haidi Sirika, predicted that domestic and international aircraft operations would start before Monday.
The Airlines Operators of Nigeria, AON, objected to the launch of Nigeria Air, claiming that doing so would be a flagrant disobedience of a court order, according to a story in the Daily Post.
Sirika stated that Ethiopia Airlines had become a key investor in Nigeria Air with a 49% interest in September 2022.
Local operators were not pleased with the development because they felt Ethiopia Airlines received an unfair edge.
AON had sued the federal government, contesting Nigeria Air’s ownership structure.
According to AON, the launch of Nigeria Air, in which Ethiopia Airlines would hold the majority interest, will harm the Nigerian economy and result in the loss of millions of jobs.
The government announced Nigeria Air on July 18, 2018, with a preliminary cost of $8.8 million and a take-off cost of $300 million.
Following the former Nigeria Airways, Nigeria Air is the country’s second airline.
Nigeria Air was given permission by the federal Executive Council to lease three aircraft in July 2022 in order to start operations.
