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Air Nigeria

Air Nigeria, originally Virgin Nigeria Airways, and then Nigerian Eagle Airlines, was the national flag carrier of Nigeria,[1] which operated scheduled regional and domestic passenger services. The airline's base was Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, its head office was in Lagos Island, Lagos,[2] and its registered office was in Ikoyi, Lagos.[3]

The airline, which effectively replaced the defunct Nigeria Airways, was founded in 2004 as a joint venture between Nigerian investors and Virgin Atlantic. Virgin withdrew from the business between 2008 and 2010. Following two name changes, Air Nigeria announced on 6 September 2012 that it had made its staff redundant and ceased operations on 10 September 2012.[4]

History

Origins

Nigerian institutional investors owned 51% of the company and Virgin Atlantic the remaining 49%. The airline's inaugural flight was on 28 June 2005 from Lagos to London Heathrow, using an Airbus A340-300.[6] Virgin Nigeria quickly became one of Nigeria's largest airlines, carrying its 1,000,000th passenger and 4,000th ton of freight within two years of operation. The airline also received accolades including THISDAY Awards 2006 Airline of the year[7] and a nomination for 2006 African Airline of the year by ASATA (Association of South African Travel Agents).[8] Virgin Nigeria had plans to make Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja its second base, where, in addition to its Lagos base Murtala Muhammed International Airport, it would serve all countries in West Africa.[9]

Sale of Virgin's stake and rebranding

On 19 August 2008, Virgin Atlantic announced that it was in talks to sell its 49 percent stake and reviewing whether it was appropriate that the Virgin brand should remain linked to Virgin Nigeria.[11] This followed a dispute which arose after Virgin Nigeria's domestic operations were moved against its will by the Ministry of Transportation to Terminal 2. Virgin Nigeria had twice refused the directive to relocate its domestic operations from the international terminal, citing the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding it had signed with the previous (Olusegun Obasanjo) administration, and pending appeal in a Lagos High court, as reasons for not complying.

On 9 January 2009, Virgin Nigeria announced it would suspend all long haul flights to London Gatwick and Johannesburg, effective 27 January 2009.[12]

On 17 September 2009, Virgin Nigeria announced on its website it had rebranded as Nigerian Eagle Airlines. Nigerian Eagle Airlines also stated that it planned to focus on domestic and regional flights with further expansion into Europe and eventually the United States of America.[13] Virgin retained its 49% stake in the new Nigerian Eagle Airlines with the remaining 51% held by Kassy Olisakwe.

Rebranding as Air Nigeria, and cessation of operations

On 2 June 2010, following the acquisition of a majority share in the airline, Jimoh Ibrahim, the new chairman, announced that the airline had undergone a further name change to Air Nigeria Development Limited, branded as Air Nigeria.[14] On 13 June 2012, the carrier was grounded by regulators for safety checks.[15]

On 6 September 2012 Air Nigeria announced that the management had fired its staff 'for being disloyal' and the airline ceased all its local, regional, and international operations.[16] Operations ceased on 10 September 2012.[4]

On 19 September 2018, the Nigerian government suspended the plans to launch Air Nigeria indefinitely.[17] No concise reasons were given for the suspension.[18]

Destinations

Codeshare agreements

Fleet

Closing fleet

The Air Nigeria fleet consisted of the following aircraft shortly before it ceased operations (as of April 2012):

Historic fleet

Before rebranding, Virgin Nigeria had also operated the following aircraft:

See also

External links

References

  1. Air Nigeria ends international flights BBC News, 2012-09-10, retrieved 2025-08-15^
  2. "Registered Office ." Air Nigeria. Retrieved on 21 May 2012. "159/161 Broad Street, Marina Lagos Island Lagos, Nigeria."^
  3. "AN Registered Offices." Air Nigeria. Retrieved on 28 June 2010. "Registered Office 188 Awolowo Road South West Ikoyi Lagos, Nigeria. Head Office 9th Floor Etiebets Place 21, Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria. "^
  4. Joe Brock. Air Nigeria shuts down in latest aviation setback Reuters, 10 September 2012, retrieved 10 September 2012^
  5. What happened to Virgin Nigeria Airways? Business Traffic, retrieved 2020-05-29^
  6. Airline briefs Australian Aviation issue 220 September 2005 page 24^
  7. Virgin Nigeria wins 2006 Airline of the Year award., AllAfrica.com website, retrieved March 27, 2007^
  8. Virgin Nigeria nominated for 2006 African Airline of the year, Association of South African Travel Agents website, retrieved 27 March 2007^
  9. Virgin Nigeria buys bevy of Embraer regional jets: AINonline^
  10. Nigeria Direct 2 May 2007^
  11. Matthew Green. Virgin in talks to sell out of Nigeria Financial Times, 19 August 2008, retrieved 2017-08-24^
  12. Flights Have Now Finished retrieved 2009-07-25^
  13. Virgin Nigeria Rebrand As Nigerian Eagle Airlines retrieved 2009-09-18^
  14. Nigerian Eagle Airlines Rebrands As Air Nigeria retrieved 2010-06-07^
  15. Nigeria's 2nd-largest airline grounded for checks - BusinessWeek^
  16. Hope of Air Nigeria's return dims as AOC expires retrieved 2012-12-11^
  17. Home Reports Afrique, retrieved 2021-08-18^
  18. Nigeria Air relaunch grounded BBC News, 2018-09-20, retrieved 2020-05-29^
  19. Nigerian Eagle Signs Code-share Deal with Delta retrieved 2009-12-06^
  20. Delta News Hub news.delta.com, retrieved 2017-08-24^
  21. Nigerian Eagle Airlines signs Codeshare with Kenya Airways^