Nigeria’s aviation industry is one of the biggest in Africa and boasts different public and private-owned airlines allocated in different states in Nigeria. Most of these airlines have acquired quality aircraft more than the others, setting a more comfortable environment for their customers travelling from one place to another. Some have also provided outstanding services to travellers, making them very popular airlines to fly in Nigeria.
These airlines have issues given an Air operator’s certificate (AOC) by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. The AOC is the approval granted by a civil aviation authority (CAA) to an aircraft operator to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes.
Nigeria has over 17 licensed airlines which engage in both domestic and international destinations. Out of these, there are some who are very popular and heavily used by Nigerians. Reasons for usage include quality of service, ticket prices, safety of the planes, etc.
Let us look at the top 10 popular airlines in Nigeria that give travellers a safe and sound trip to different places in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
AIR PEACE
Air Peace is Nigeria’s biggest airline, founded in 2013 by business magnate and billionaire, Allen Onyeama. The company’s headquarters are in Lagos, Nigeria with its operating bases in Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The airline began operations with Dornier 328s and Boeing 737s but today has thirty-three fleets, from three aeroplane makers ( Embraer (13), Boeing(16), and Airbus(4) ) in order to provide efficient, safe, and reasonable short and long-distance travel services.
Air Peace flies to the following destinations:
- 19 states in Nigeria,
- 7 African countries: Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon, Gambia, Senegal, Niger, and Sierra Leone.
- United Arab Emirates.
DANA AIR
Dana Air is a domestic airline based in Ikeja Lagos State, Nigeria. It has become a popular choice among the flying public.
Although a good airline, Dana Air has always been in the news for ugly incidents. In 2012, it had its licence withdrawn by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority following the tragic crash of its McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (flight 992) into a story building in Iju Railway area of Ishaga, Lagos on June 3rd 2012 which killed all the 153 persons on-board.
Its licence was restored in September 2012 even before inquiries into the matter were concluded. Interestingly, its licence was suspended again in October 2013 and the airline audited before it continued operation in January 2014.
Dana Air has only 8 Aircraft, this includes one Boeing 737-500 and four McDonnell Douglas MD-83. Currently, Dana Air operates predominantly as a domestic carrier with the following destinations: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Uyo.
ARIK AIR
Founded in 2004 by Michael Arumemi-Ikhide and starting operations in 2006, Arik Air has built a strong domestic and regional network Currently, it travels to about 16 destinations with its 21 fleets of Aircrafts. These include eight Boeing 737-700, four Boeing 737-800, four Bombardier CRJ900, four De Havilland Dash 8-400, and one Bombardier CRJ1000.
It operates from two main Airports in the country and they include Murtala Muhammad International Airport Lagos and Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja.
Its head office is the Arik Air Aviation Centre on the grounds of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.
Arik Air began scheduled passenger flights officially in October 2006 when it operated passenger flights to Lagos and Abuja respectively. The airline was authorised by the Federal Government to fly to international destinations like Amsterdam, Trinidad and Tobago, London and Madrid.
AERO CONTRACTORS
Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria Limited, known as Aero Contractors or simply Aero, is a state-controlled Nigerian airline company based at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. Its parent company is Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) which owns 60% of the shares, with the remainder owned by Ibru family interests.
The airline, which bills itself as “the dependable way to fly,” flies both local and regional flights at reasonable prices. It was founded in 1959 but officially registered in Nigeria in 1960. At that time, it was wholly owned by Schreiner Airways B.V. of the Netherlands. It currently employs about 1,300 people.
Currently, Aero Contractors travels to about 13 destinations and has 7 fixed-wing Aircraft in its fleet. These include one Boeing 737-400, two Boeing 737-500, one De Havilland Dash 8 Q200, one De Havilland Dash 8 Q300 and two De Havilland Dash 8 Q400.
MEDVIEW AIRLINE
Website: www.medviewairline.com
MedView Airline is one of Nigeria’s leading regional and local airlines, having headquarters in Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport. MedView, dubbed “Nigeria’s airline,” was founded in 2007 to provide emergency services to Muslim pilgrims in Nigeria’s different states. The airline’s local commercial operations began in 2012, catering to Nigerians who were eager to fly.
Since then, the airline has expanded its reach to include locations in Nigeria, such as Abuja, Port Harcourt, Yola, Enugu, and Maiduguri, as well as Ghana’s Accra and the United Kingdom’s London-Gatwick Airport.
It currently has four fleets which include two Boeing 737-400, one Boeing 737-500, one Boeing 777-200ER.
IBOM AIR
Website: www.ibomair.com
Ibom Air is a Nigerian Airline owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government. The airline is the first airline in Nigeria to be owned by a state government. It was founded on the 7th of June 2019, with 7 fleet sizes covering six destinations. Its fleet comprises five Bombardier CRJ900 and two Airbus A220-300 planes.
In May 2021, the Airline also signed Nigeria’s first domestic codeshare agreement with Dana Air.
Earlier in the year, Ibom Air emerged the Best Airline in Nigeria, in an award ceremony organised by Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
GREEN AFRICA AIRWAYS
Green Africa Airways Ltd is a Nigerian start-up airline, based in Lagos, Nigeria made popular because of its cheap air ticket. It is about the cheapest airline right now in Nigeria. Babawande Afolabi founded at Green Africa Airways in 2015 and the airline commenced flights on 12 August 2021
Green Africa’s Board of directors consists of industry veterans including Tom Horton, former chairman and CEO of American Airlines; William Shaw, current CEO of Interjet, etc.
Green Airways currently serves the Nigerian domestic market with plans to further expand service across the African continent. It has three ATR 72-600 planes with plans to acquire Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Airbus A220-300. It flies to seven destinations within the country.
AZMAN AIR
Azman airline is a Nigerian-based airline located in Kano State, the northern part of Nigeria. It operates domestic flights across 11 destinations.
It was founded in 2010 by Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, a Nigerian businessman. Azman airline fully started its operation in 2014, running from Kano state to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
It has six aircraft that run its service to different states in Nigeria, including one Airbus A340-600, two Boeing 737-300 and three Boeing 737-500.
Azman’s airline destinations include Abuja, Asaba, Benin City, Birnin Kebbi, Gombe, Kaduna, Lagos, Maiduguri, Kano, and the Bahamas in Nassau international airport.
OVERLAND AIR
Website: www.overlandairways.com
The overland airline was established in 2002 with two hubs located at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Its main base is Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.
Overland airline operates locally in Nigeria within 10 different destinations, including Abuja, Akure, Ibadan, Ilorin, Taraba and Lagos.
As one of the best airlines in Nigeria, the Overland airline has nine aircraft that it uses to render maximum service to its customers, including four ATR 42, three ATR 72 and two Beechcraft 1900D.
MAX AIR
The airline was established in 2006 as Mangal Airlines but 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. Max airline was established by Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, a businessman.
It has its base located at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, northern Nigeria. It is one of the longest-serving international airlines in Nigeria, and this has made it one of the very popular airlines in Nigeria.
The airline operates domestically in seven different routes in Nigeria including Abuja, Bauchi, Benin City, Birnin Kebbi, Jos Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Kano, Yola and Sokoto. It also travels internationally to Saudi Arabia. Max airline has eight aircraft for transportation to maintain its maximum services, including five Boeing 737-300, three Boeing 747-400 and one Embraer ERJ-145.