Air Nigeria has taken delivery of a Boeing 737-400, expanding its fleet to eleven aircraft as it consolidates its regional and domestic route network.
Air Nigeria, the national flag carrier of Nigeria, announced on Friday that it had accepted the aircraft, which has a two class cabin configuration with 12 Business and 133 Economy class seats.
The new arrival brings the number of 737-400s in Air Nigeria’s fleet to nine. It also flies two Embraer 190 regional aircraft.
“The arrival of this aircraft to Air Nigeria’s rapidly growing fleet further attests to the successes of the turnaround process initiated just over a year ago by the airline’s new management under the Chairmanship of Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim,” the airline said.
Air Nigeria has grown steadily with the introduction of new routes and aircrafts to its fleet over the past few months. The arrival of the 737 comes on the heels of the commencement of flight operations to Sao Tome on August 18.
Earlier this month Air Nigeria formally launched its inaugural flight to the United States as part of a code sharing agreement with Delta Airlines. The deal allows the two airlines to operate direct flights from Lagos and Abuja to Atlanta, Georgia.
“It is a major strategic move from the Air Nigeria side that is position as a dominant player in the aviation sector, not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa,” said Chief Executive Officer of Air Nigeria, Kinfe Kahssaye.
From its operational base at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, Air Nigeria currently flies to Benin City, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Kano, Sokoto and Enugu on domestic routes.
It also flies to Brazzaville, Accra, Douala, Dakar, Monrovia, Cotonou, Banjul, Libreville, Abidjan and Sao Tome & Principe with further plans to extend services to more African destinations, Europe, Asia and the Americas in the near future.
