Nigeria's new national carrier is given Ministerial blessing
Nigeria's aviation minister Princess Stella Oduah has said on national television that the go ahead has been given for a national flag carrier which will be called either National-One or Nigeria-One.
The move comes ten years after the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways, ceased operation.
The minister said on the television programme ’90 minutes’ that the government was fine-tuning the arrangements for the take-off of the airline, to be called 'National One'. There are also suggestions from the Ministry that it could be called ‘Nigeria-One.’ Meanwhile the Nigerian Air Force has reportedly purchased a small number of Boeing B737s which were planned for a proposed airline called ‘United Nigeria Airlines.’ The of these -a B737-500- is expected in the country within the next few weeks.
Since the collapse of Nigeria Airways in 2003, several private airlines have sprung up in the country to fill the gap with Arik Air now the nation's largest airline. The Nigerian government also made a previous attempt to reenter the aviation market through a tie up with Virgin Atlantic called Virgin Nigeria. However, Virgin pulled out after accusations of corruption.
Since the collapse of Nigeria Airways in 2003, several private airlines have sprung up in the country to fill the gap with Arik Air now the nation's largest airline. The Nigerian government also made a previous attempt to reenter the aviation market through a tie up with Virgin Atlantic called Virgin Nigeria. However, Virgin pulled out after accusations of corruption.
Oduah said the new airline could be launched as soon as September.
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