Nigeria's ValueJet targets A320s for launch

Nigeria's ValueJet commences flight operations

ValueJet (VK, Lagos) began commercial flight operations on October 10, 2022, with a flight from Lagos to Abuja operated with CRJ900ER, 5N-BXS (msn 15113).

Founded in July 2018, the start-up secured its air operator's certificate (AOC) on September 21, 2022, after it received its air transport license (ATL) in March 2020.

Its fleet comprises two in-house ex-Air Nostrum CRJ900s - 5N-BXS (msn 15113) and 5N-BXT (msn 15117) - and one CRJ900LR, 5N-BXR (msn 15080), leased from Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt Int'l).

According to the ch-aviation schedules module, ValueJet's flights will operate as follows:

• Lagos to Asaba: 3x weekly (launched), increasing to daily from October 31, 2022;
• Lagos to Abuja: 2x daily (launched);
• Lagos - Abuja -Yola: 4x weekly starting October 31;
• Lagos - Abuja -Kano: 3x weekly starting November 1;
• Lagos - Benin City: 3x weekly starting November 1;
• Lagos - Jos: 4x weekly starting October 17;
• Lagos - Port...

Nigeria's ValueJet secures AOC, preps for launch

ValueJet (VK, Lagos) received its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on September 21, 2022, and confirmed plans to launch commercial operations "soon".

The start-up has so far taken deliveries of two ex-Air Nostrum CRJ900s and one ex-Lufthansa CityLine CRJ900LR. All three are currently parked at Lagos airport. ValueJet plans to operate as Nigeria's first low-cost carrier, although it has yet to reveal its planned network or bases.

The airline received its Air Transport Licence (ATL) in March 2020, when it was still eyeing A320s for its fleet.

ValueJet did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment regarding its next steps.

Nigeria's ValueJet takes first CRJ900s

ValueJet (VK, Lagos) took delivery of its first aircraft - two CRJ900s - on May 20, 2022, as it inches towards launch as Nigeria's newest low-cost carrier.

5N-BXS (msn 15113) and 5N-BXT (msn 15117), 15.5-year-old ex-Air Nostrum sisterships, were ferried from maintenance at Valencia Manises via Tamanrasset to Lagos. They remained parked at Lagos, awaiting proving flights and certification of ValueJet

"This is one of the many defining steps in ValueJet’s anticipated milestones. Performance, safety, and comfort informed the choice of our aircraft selection. With a track record of safety, ValueJet will deploy these aircraft for regional flight services once we have completed all mandatory processes and secured AOC approvals," Managing Director Omololu Majekodunmi said.

The airline expects delivery of its third unit of the type - 5N-BXR (msn 15080), ex-Lufthansa CityLine stock - "in the nearest future".

ValueJet originally targeted A320s for launch but later changed its plans to the smaller Bombardier Aerospace regional jets.

Nigeria's ValueJet to add CRJ900 in pax, freighter configs