United Nigeria Airlines (UN, Enugu) has signed a sale and purchase agreement with Southwest Airlines (WN, Dallas Love Field) for six B737-800s and expressed interest in four more, to be inducted between the first quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027.
According to a joint statement issued after the September 3 signing ceremony at Southwest Airlines in Dallas, the transaction was brokered in partnership with Skyworks Holdings, a global leasing and asset management firm. Boeing and Southwest will provide ongoing training and maintenance support to United Nigeria Airlines. The aircraft will accommodate 189 passengers in a single-class configuration.
Plans for the acquisition of the six B737-800s were first reported by ch-aviation in July. The airline said the aircraft would be delivered in two phases: two would arrive in February 2026, with the remaining four expected by the end of June. Three of these would be owned by the airline, the other three would be financed.
In a joint statement, the carriers and Skyworks described the transaction as "a landmark deal" marking a new phase in United Nigeria Airlines' strategic growth and fleet expansion plan. The aircraft will enable it to broaden its domestic, regional, and future international operations, and enhance efficiency and capacity. Chairman Obiora Okonkwo said the fleet upgrade will expand routes, create jobs, and bolster Nigeria’s aviation competitiveness.
"The new fleet will enable us to operate new flights into approved domestic, regional, and international designations, lift more passengers and cargo at competitive fares, and provide efficient point-to-point travel, helping Nigerians and other African travellers to eliminate inefficient stopovers and save valuable time," he outlined.
United Nigeria Airlines currently owns four E145 regional jets, three of which are active, ADS-B data shows. It also previously wet-leased an E145 from fellow Nigerian carrier Xejet, an A320-200 from Bulgarian carrier Fly2Sky, and a B737-800 on ACMI from SkyUp Airlines.
