United Nigeria Airlines has revealed details about expanding its aircraft fleet and plans to increase the number of destinations the carrier flies to.
The airline, which only started operations in 2021, announced it would acquire 12 brand new aircraft within the next 24 months.
In a statement by Mazj Okonkwo, the airline’s chief operating officer, said the carrier plans to have two Embraer-190 aircraft delivered by the fourth quarter of 2023.
This would be followed by 10 new Embraer-175 aircraft in batches within the following two years.
“We are desirous of expanding our operations. So, the acquisition of more aircraft is in accord with our business development and growth plan. We are bringing in Embrarer-190 aircraft. We expect them to be in Nigeria by the end of the fourth quarter of year 2023,” Okonkwo said. “We are also expecting another set of aircraft thereafter – 10 brand new Embraer-17. These will help us increase our capacity for national and regional operations also.”
Okonkwo added that plans are in motion for operations to Ghana, Angola, South Africa, Niger Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, and Senegal among other African countries, according to World Stage.
United Nigeria Airlines currently has four Embraer-145 in service, flying to multiple cities in Nigeria.
On May 31, 2023, one of the airline’s Embraer-145 skidded off the runway in Lagos, Nigeria, while 50 passengers were on board.
According to United Nigeria the aircraft landed safely but was forced to “terminate its movement to the apron off the runway”.
No-one on the plane suffered any injuries and the incident is being looked into by investigators from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).