Nigeria's NG Eagle gears up for late 2Q21 launch

Nigeria's Green Africa Airways adds first aircraft, an ATR72

Green Africa Airways (Q9, Lagos) took delivery of its first aircraft on Friday, April 23, as it pushes to complete its AOC certification drive and launch.

ATR72-600 ZS-XZD (msn 1047), which will become 5N-GAE on the Nigerian register, was ferried to Lagos from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo and is one of three such Avions de Transport Régional turboprops the start-up is acquiring in its launch phase. ZS-ESS, which will become 5N-GAA (msn 1057), and ZS-XZC, to become 5N-GAD (msn 1076), will follow shortly. All three are leased from ACIA Aero.

Green Africa's founder and chief executive officer, Babawande Afolabi, told The Guardian (Nigeria) newspaper earlier this month that the start-up plans to deploy up to 15 aircraft between now and 2022.

“In addition to Lagos, we plan to open two to three bases in the country over the next 18 months. This will enable us to connect more cities with affordable fares to customers and bring the joy and value of air travel to a much broader group of people,”...

Nigeria's AMCON moots new airline holding company

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is awaiting regulatory approval to launch a new holding company for aviation assets under its control, which would enable the state asset manager to exit the sector, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Kuru has told The Nation newspaper.

Kuru said AMCON had applied for an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to establish a holding company that would collectively manage airlines currently under its management, including Arik Air (W3, Lagos), Aero Contractors (N2, Lagos), Afrijet Airlines (6F, Lagos) and another two undisclosed airlines, instead of AMCON managing them separately as at present. “The strategic exit plan, is to float a holding company, warehousing all aviation assets for (an) easy sale,” he was quoted as saying.

AMCON’s start-up NG Eagle (XLE, Lagos) had branded aircraft waiting on the ground for the airline's certification to be finalised, he said. NG Eagle was incorporated on July 11, 2019, with a share capital of NGN1 billion (USD2.5 million), of which AMCON holds NGN499.9 million (USD1.2 million),...

AMCON plans to operate Arik, NG Eagle side-by-side

The state-owned Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) intends to retain Arik Air (W3, Lagos) alongside its new start-up NG Eagle (XLE, Lagos), at least until the end of 2021, according to Arik Air Receiver Manager, Kamilu Omokide.

He told THISDAY newspaper that AMCON had concluded plans to wet-lease three more aircraft for Arik Air, which has been in receivership with AMCON since 2017. “Currently we are doing very well with operational expenses.” He added: “Arik does not plan to get out of business. It will operate side-by-side with NG Eagle for a while. We have been able to access wet-leases and we have been able to run them very professionally. We have a plan to bring three more planes with the support of AMCON on wet lease, ACMI.”

He continued: “We cannot pull all of our aircraft from Arik. Arik will be sustained throughout this year. Arik has a very big space at its headquarters that can take in four airlines on a good arrangement where costs can be shared. It has good...

Nigerian gov't pushes ahead with new nat'l carrier project