Nigeria's Binani Air applies for an OL for domestic ops

Nigeria's Air Peace demands Heathrow slots after TCO

Having recently secured its UK Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation, Air Peace (P4, Lagos) has demanded access to London Heathrow, citing the reciprocity principle in the bilateral air services agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

"It took seven years for them [the UK] to come and do the audit. Now we have got the approval. The next thing is slots, and they are telling us to go to London Stansted or take London Gatwick. I'm not going to Stansted or Gatwick. You come to the primary airport in Nigeria, and by BASA, you enjoy the two primary airports. So, you will give me your own primary airport. It must be Heathrow or nothing," Chairman Allen Onyema told The Whistler newspaper.

The 1988 agreement authorises designated Nigerian carriers to fly to London - without specifying an airport - and Manchester International while designated British carriers are allowed to fly to Abuja and Lagos. Currently, British Airways (BA, London Heathrow) flies daily to each of the Nigerian airports...

Nigeria's Desun Airlines eyes AOC by 4Q23

Nigeria's Binani Air adds first aircraft, an E170

Nigerian startup Cardinal Airlines in certification drive

Another Nigerian start-up, Cardinal Airlines (Abuja), is reportedly going through the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) process with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) with plans to commence domestic operations from Abuja by the end of the third quarter of 2021.

The company has applied to use Embraer jets and ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprops due to their cost effectiveness on domestic and regional routes, according to local media.

Its application for an air transport licence (ATL) is at an advanced stage, the reports said. The NCAA was not immediately available for comment.

Cardinal Airlines founder and chairman Alhaji Masud Bashir, who has a background in real estate, reportedly launched the venture to bring more affordable airfares to Nigerians. The airline will have its operational base in Abuja but will operate to all airports across the country, he disclosed, adding that he plans to take off with four aircraft and later increase the fleet as operations progress. The company was registered in Abuja on July 15, 2019, according to ch-aviation...