Dana Air (9J, Lagos) has announced it will shortly take delivery of a B737-700 on wet-lease from fellow West African operator, ASKY Airlines (KP, Lomé).

In a statement, Dana Air Media and Communications Manager, Kingsley Ezenwa, said the Boeing narrowbody would be deployed on "early bird" flights between Lagos and Abuja effective September 10.

"The introduction of the 737-700 aircraft is part of our ongoing partnership with ASKY airlines and it will operate two daily flights from Abuja to Lagos at 0702L and 1611L and a return service from Lagos to Abuja at 0855L and 1803L," he said.

Last year, Chief Operating Officer Obialor Mbanuzuo told ch-aviation the Nigerian carrier would take the B737 on a year-long lease.

Mbanuzuo also said the B737-700 was an ideal candidate for renewal given it more or less offers comparable seating capacity to Dana Air's existing McDonnell Douglas fleet. As such, aside from its improved operational parameters as compared to its fleet of one MD-82 and three MD-83s, the B737-700 would also allow Dana Air to explore new West African routes within a 3-hour flying radius from its Lagos base.