Air travel is the fastest means of transportation today and everyday millions of Nigerians choose to travel by air.
Air travel in Nigeria has undergone significant transformation over the years.
Furthermore, air travel in Niger has evolved into a robust and essential mode of transportation within the country.
Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, boasts a network of airports and airlines that connect its diverse regions.
Speaking of a network of airports; in recent years many state governors in Nigeria have built state owned airports.
Subsequently, these state owned airports has offered convenience and accessibility to both domestic and international travelers.
Lastly, this brief article will discuss the five major airlines in Nigeria, including their routes and the quality of their services.
1. Air Peace
Founded in 2013 by an indigenous Nigerian lawyer and businessman Allen Onyema.
Without doubt, Air Peace Limited is most popular airline in Nigeria. Headquartered in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
In fact, this prestigious Nigerian airline holds the distinction of being the flag carrier and the largest airline in Nigeria and West Africa at large.
Air Peace operates both passenger and charter services, connecting major Nigerian cities and serving various West African destinations, as well as the Middle East.
In 2018, Air Peace expanded its operations by establishing a subsidiary, Air Peace Hopper; A scheduled passenger flight airline.
Local Destinations;
Air Peace local destination includes;
1. Abuja – Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
2. Akure – Akure Airport
3. Asaba – Asaba International Airport
4. Awka – Anambra International Cargo Airport
5. Benin City – Benin Airport
6. Calabar – Margaret Ekpo International Airport
7. Enugu – Akanu Ibiam International Airport
8. Gombe – Gombe Lawanti International Airport
9. Ibadan – Ibadan Airport
10. Ilorin – Ilorin International Airport
11. Kaduna – Kaduna International Airport
12. Kano – Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport
13. Lagos – Murtala Muhammed International Airport
14. Makurdi – Makurdi Airport
15. Owerri – Sam Mbakwe Airport
16. Port Harcourt – Port Harcourt International Airport
17. Uyo – Victor Attah International Airport
18. Warri – Osubi Airport
19. Yola – Yola Airport
International Destinations;
Air Peace international destination below includes the following;
1. Antigua and Barbuda – St. John’s – VC Bird International Airport
2. Cameroon – Douala – Douala International Airport
3. China – Guangzhou – Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
4. Gambia – Banjul – Banjul International Airport
5. Ghana – Accra – Kotoka International Airport
6. India – Mumbai – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
7. Israel – Tel Aviv – Ben Gurion International Airport
8. Liberia – Monrovia – Roberts International Airport
9. Niger – Niamey – Diori Hamani International Airport
10. Senegal – Dakar – Blaise Diagne International Airport
11. Sierra Leone – Freetown – Lungi International Airport
12. South Africa – Johannesburg – O. R. Tambo International Airport
13. United Arab Emirates – Dubai – Dubai International Airport
14. United Arab Emirates – Sharjah – Sharjah International Airport
Service Quality:
Air Peace is known for its excellent customer service, offering convenient flight rescheduling options and easily accessible customer service support.
And onboard their flights, the cabin crew are very helpful.
2. Green Africa
The second on the list is Green Africa Airways, a cost effective airline.
Founded on 15 June 2015 by Babawande Afolabi, with a mission to provide cheap affordable flights to Nigerians.
Green Africa commenced operations with the first flight touching down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria.
Furthermore, the operational delay was a result of challenges in acquiring the required licenses for commencement.
Currently, Green Africa only serves the Nigerian domestic market, with plans to expand its service across Nigeria in the future.
Local Destinations;
Green Africa destinations include the following;
1. Abuja – Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,
2. Akure – Akure Airport
3. Enugu – Akanu Ibiam International Airport
4. Ilorin – Ilorin International Airport
5. Lagos – Murtala Muhammed International Airport
6. Owerri – Sam Mbakwe Airport
7. Port Harcourt – Port Harcourt International Airport
Service Quality
Green Africa customer service is very professional and helpful, especially when rerouting or rescheduling your flights.
In addition, the check-in officers have good communication skills and are very helpful too.
But, the air hostess tends to be less accommodating, and they always look serious, which does not seem nice.
3. Ibom Air
Ibom Air is owned by the Akwa Ibom state government.
This airline commenced operation in 2019, with government officials on board, and headed to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Ibom Air majorly serves only the Nigerian domestic market, with an exception of Accra Ghana as the only international destination.
And, it might be important to know that Akwa Ibom is the first state in Nigeria to own an airline.
Local Destinations;
1. Abuja – Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
2. Calabar – Margaret Ekpo International Airport
3. Enugu – Akanu Ibiam International Airport
4. Lagos – Murtala Muhammed International Airport
5. Port Harcourt – Port Harcourt International Airport
6. Uyo – Victor Attah International Airport
International Destinations
1. Ghana – Accra – Kotoka International Airport
Service Quality
Great customer service and check-in attendants are helpful and have good communication skills.
Cabin crew members are super nice and accommodating.
4. Arik Air
Arik Air was founded in 2004 by Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide.
Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide started the company after Nigeria Airways was shut down in 2002.
Nigerian Airways was shut down because of poor management, corruption, and having too many employees.
When Nigeria Airways closed, it owed a lot of money, specifically $528,000,000.
Although, even today Arik Air is plagued with debt problems and is expected to merge with another Nigerian airline soon.
Arik Air serves Nigeria’s domestic and international markets and has about 5 fleets.
However, as of now, this airline appears to only operate domestic flights due to the impact of COVID-19.
Local Destinations;
Arik Air local destination includes;
1. Abuja – Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
2. Benin City – Benin Airport
3. Jos – Yakubu Gowon Airport
4. Lagos – Murtala Muhammed International Airport
5. Maiduguri – Maiduguri International Airport
6. Port Harcourt – Port Harcourt International Airport
7. Sokoto – Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport
8. Warri – Osubi Airport
9. Yola – Yola Airport
Service Quality
Customer service is not really good. Check-in attendants are helpful.
Cabin crew members are somewhat accommodating.
5. Aero Contractors
Aero Contractors or simply called Aero, is a state-owned airline founded in 1959.
However, it was originally owned and operated by Schreiner Airways B.V. of the Netherlands.
This Nigerian airline company that is run by the government is located at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria.
They do helicopter and airplane services for both domestic and international flights, air charter, and other airplane services.
They mainly help the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
Aero Contractors offers cost-effective flights, just like Green Africa.
Local Destinations
Aero Contractors local destinations includes;
1. Abuja – Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
2. Asaba – Asaba International Airport
3. Benin City – Benin Airport
4. Calabar – Margaret Ekpo International Airport
5. Kaduna – Kaduna Airport
6. Kano – Aminu Kano Airport
7. Enugu – Akanu Ibiam International Airport
8. Lagos – Murtala Mohammed International Airport
9. Owerri – Imo Airport
10. Port Harcourt – Port Harcourt International Airport
11. Uyo – Akwa Ibom Airport
12. Sokoto – Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport
International Destinations
For international scheduled passenger services contact their customer service to confirm various destinations.
Service Quality
This airline does not have good customer service. It’s really difficult to get someone to answer their customer service phone.
Check-in attendants are helpful and have good communication skills.
Cabin crew members are nice and accommodating.
Conclusion
Without doubt, Nigerian airlines have the best pilots in the world and very few accidents and serious incidents.
To book your flights visit the website of the respective airline, make sure you have your details ready and cash in your account for payment.
Lastly, when you are making a payment, you can select your preferred payment method from a list of various options, there is even an option to send money from your bank app.
