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By Chinelo Obogo, [email protected]
In February 2021, when United Nigeria Airline (UNA) commenced operations with three Embraer ERJ 145s shortly after the nation’s airspace was reopened following the COVID-19 lockdown, not many observers had given it a chance of surviving the first one year of operation in an unfriendly business environment. But two years down the line, the airline has added more aircraft to its fleet and is operating to 11 destinations (Abuja, Anambra, Asaba, Benin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Owerri, Port Hacourt, Sokoto and Yenagoa) with regional and international routes planned for next year.
•From left: Chairman of Azman Air, Abdulmunaf Sarina, CEO of United Nigeria Airline, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, former Ambassador to Spain, Bianca Ojukwu, at the airline’s inaugural flight to Kano, recently.
Last week, UNA opened three new routes, two in the north (Kano and Sokoto) and one in the south (Benin).
Being on the trip Daily Sun could feel the excitement and fun that characterised the unveiling of the three new destinations where the airline intends to fly more Nigerians as it works to increase its network across the country.
•CEO of United Nigeria Airline, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo (Fourth left), Governor Aliyu Sokoto (Fifth left) during a courtesy visit by the airline’s management at Government House in Sokoto, recently.
For a sector that has increasingly becoming more difficult to operate amid challenges of double digit inflation, forex scarcity, naira devaluation, high cost of jet A1, multiple charges, double taxation, airport infrastructure deficit and inefficient policies, an airline increasing its fleet from three to six and expanding its routes to 11 destinations in a space of two years cannot be taken for granted.
For instance, at the time UNA commenced operations, jet A1 was sold for about N200 to N250 per liter, but at the moment, it is being sold for between N800 and N1000, representing more than 400 percent increase in two years.
•CEO of United Nigeria Airline, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo (Seventh right) and the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki (8th right) at the inaugural flight of the airline to Benin, recently.
Nigeria’s business environment is undoubtedly regarded as one of the most difficult in Africa and some of these issues have caused the collapse of not a few domestic airlines in recent time that couldn’t source forex to pay for maintenance of aircraft and purchase of spare parts.
Benin
Despite these challenges, UNA has continued to make progress and getting commendations from state governors and royalty for its resilience in a very difficult operating environment.
Recently one of such commendations came from Governor Godwin Obaseki, who last Tuesday, December 12, rolled out the red carpet to receive UNA’s team at the airport as it launched the commencement of its daily flights to Benin. The governor, who arrived at the airport before 10.am, welcomed the Chairman of UNA, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo and the airlines’ team, with joy at it decision to add Benin to its growing network following many meetings held with the management.
He also expressed confidence that with the entrance of UNA on the Benin route, there would be ease of movement of people and goods which in turn will improve the GDP of the state. He promised to continue supporting investment of the private sector in the state and the upgrade of the facilities at the airport.
Obaseki observed that with the entrance of UNA airfares would be more competitive with arrays of choice for the travelling public.
He recalled how seven years ago, Benin had only one aircraft operating into its aerodrome, but that the state government’s collaboration with private investors had further increased the number of operators at the airport.
He assured of provision of security during the yuletide season, saying that the State is the most secure in the South South.
Okonkwo, expressed appreciation to the governor for the red carpet reception the state government gave to the airline and satisfaction at the successful launch of flight operations from Lagos and Abuja to Benin. He said that the launch of the flight would enhance competition on the route, stressing that the airline would operate twice daily to the airport. He then revealed that the airline is wrapping up plans to commence direct flights from Italy to Nigeria, which he said would be historic being the first domestic airline to do so. He then appealed to the Federal Government to make Benin airport a 24-hour aerodrome for increased economic activities, highlighting the challenges airlines are facing due to the lack of 24 hour operation in many of the airports.
Sokoto
After the inaugural flight to Benin, the next stop were Sokoto and Kano launched the following day, Wednesday, December 13. The journey to Sokoto from Abuja was historic because of the presence of the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III and the state governor, Aliyu Sokoto, both of whom boarded the Airbus A320-200 from Abuja.
By the Sultan’s own admission during the UNA team’s courtesy visit to the palace, it would be the very first time he and the governor would be on the inaugural flight of any airline.
At his palace, the Sultan expressed joy at the decision of the airline to commence Sokoto operations, revealing that he has known Prof. Okonkwo for many years and when he wanted to start the airline, he informed him (the Sultan) and received his blessings. He promised that the palace would support the airline in any way possible to succeed in its operations to the state and anywhere else. He regretted the aviation industry in Nigeria was faced with enormous challenges and commended the airline for weathering the storm. According to the Sultan, the plan to link Abuja with Sokoto started about eight months ago and expressed delight that the dream had become a reality.
“United Nigeria Airlines is most welcomed to fly to Sokoto. Obiora told me about this plan eight months ago and I am happy that it has become a reality today. We need to open Sokoto to more airlines and connect more routes from here. The business environment is very tight in Nigeria and you have to be strong to remain in business and I know Okonkwo is very strong, having been in politics and I know that the experience he gathered there will spur him on. This is the first time I am flying with any inaugural flight in this country and you did this. If there are challenges you are facing in the sector, please feel free to tell me and I would help,” the Sultan said.
After the visit to the palace, the airline’s team paid a courtesy visit to the governor’s office where again, they received a red carpet reception. Governor Sokoto told his audience that the airline was the first to commence direct routes from Abuja to Sokoto since he was sworn-in as the governor of the state over six months ago and promised to provide good business environment for the airline to thrive, maintaining that aviation was a catalyst for economic growth of any nation. He then requested that the airline should commence direct flights from Sokoto to Kano, a request Prof. Obiora said the management team would consider.
“Air transportation holds the key to economic growth in any country and you are the first airline that has shown interest in visiting the state since I assumed office. I want to request that you open the Sokoto-Kano route which will enhance the development of our state,” the governor said.
While responding, Okonkwo said that Sokoto is a very important marketplace for the airline and promised that it would continue to serve it well. He promised that the airline would live up to its mantra of uniting all Nigerians irrespective of their state in the country.
“I have only heard one request and that is for us to consider flying from Sokoto to Kano. There is no doubt that the governor means we’ll and he went further to say he will give us all the support we need. I want to assure you that we will be starting that route very soon,” he said.
Kano
After the visit to Sokoto, the airline returned to Abuja and picked passengers for its inaugural flight to Kano on the same day. In Kano, the airline’s team was joined by the chairman of Azman Air, Abdulmunaf Sarina who is also the President of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), as they paid a visit to the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, an aviation professional himself. At the palace, the Emir commended Prof. Obiora for keeping to his promise that the airline would commence Kano operations before the end of the year, saying that it shows he has integrity. The Emir then requested that the airline should open direct routes from Kano to the South East, a request that Prof. Obiora assured will be granted.
“When Prof. Obiora came here some months ago, he promised me he will ensure that United Nigeria begins its Kano operations and today, he has fulfilled that promise. This is how you know someone with integrity. When you make a promise, you keep it and I am very happy this promise has come to fruition. The tradition of being a commercial center is well known and I hope that with the addition of Kano to the routes, it will be a catalyst for more development. You are assured of my continued support and my hope is that there would be flights to link Kano to the South East states where we have a huge population of Igbos. Given the long standing relationship between Kano and the South East, if a route is open between Kano and the South East, it would further boost economic development in the region and in Kano as well,” the Emir said.
Responding to the Emir’s request, Prof. Obiora expressed his gratitude for the support the palace has given the airline since its inception and promised that there would be flights from Kano to the South East to enable ease of movement for the festive season.
