K-impex Airline (Abuja) is set to take delivery of four purchased E190s as it nears completion of its air operator's certificate (AOC) from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), according to reports in the Nigerian media.
CEO Abel Ozigi told the country's Aviation Metric that the company had decided to buy the aircraft instead of leasing them to save costs long-term. "We chose outright purchase to redeem the capital flight associated with the lease option," he said. Each jet will be configured with 98 seats (90 economy, eight business). The registration details of the aircraft were not disclosed.
ch-aviation has contacted Ozigi and the NCAA for comment.
According to Aviation Metric, K-impex Airline aims to fill some of the gaps in Nigeria’s air travel market, targeting more than 40 destinations, including smaller cities and remote airstrips overlooked by major carriers.
As previously reported, the start-up evolved from Knights Impex Limited, a Nigerian import/export company founded in 1997. Registration of K-impex Airline followed in 2021 (company number RC-1808490), according to a filing with the Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission.
The chairman, Nasiru Ado Bayero, is a Nigerian banker and businessman and the current emir of Bichi Emirate Council in Kano State. CEO Ozigi is a registered engineer and previously worked in the office of the governor of Kogi State.
According to its published business plan, K-impex will target high-demand short-haul domestic routes, leveraging smaller regional jets to achieve operational efficiency and profitability. It will complement its scheduled services with private charters and is aiming for a gradual ramp-up in its fleet and route network.
The company's initial plans were to enter the local scheduled passenger, charter, and cargo market in the first quarter of 2022 with seven aircraft, including four Embraers (one E175, one E170, and two E145s); one B737-800(F); and two Learjet 40/Learjet 45s, all to be operated on dry lease.
