Nigeria Air’s Launch Has Been Suspended for Reasons Unknown
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
The Nigerian government announced ambitious plans to reboot its national airline at the Farnbourough Air Show this summer but has now suspended the project “in the interim” according to a tweet on Wednesday from Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika.
Sirika gave no reason for the suspension of the project and now opposition party leaders are accusing the minister of using the airline to defraud the nation of 1.2 billion Nigerian dollars ($3,380,400 USD).
“The suspension was strategic and had nothing to do with politics,” Sirika said in a separate statement, according to Al-Jazeera.
Nigeria is the largest country in Africa by population and lost its national carrier, Nigeria Airways, in 2003. Since then it’s seen a multitude of private airlines, including a Virgin-branded carrier, that have all shut down operations after only a few years of flying.
In July, Sirika said that the new airline, called Nigeria Air, would be a public-private partnership with a goal to commence operations by December 2018.
Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) commended the government for stopping the project, criticizing the creation of the airline for a non-transparent investment process and as a waste of national resources.
“Putting the issue into perspective, setting up of National Carrier will cost Nigeria at least three billion dollars because a single B777 Aircraft as of today costs about 320 million dollars,” said Captain Nogie Meggisson, chairman of the AON.
“Is it wise and our priority as a nation to take three billion dollars from the Nigerian coffers today and put into a venture that will for sure go down the drain within a maximum of five years to establish a ‘National Carrier’,” Meggisson added.
In August, Ethiopian Airlines was seen as a frontrunner to operate the new airline. The Star Alliance carrier has heavily invested in a number of African airlines during the last few years to build up its presence in the continent.
Tweets mocked the non-existent airline:
It’s unclear if and when efforts to launch Air Nigeria will be restarted. Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari, who is up for re-election in February 2019, campaigned on bringing back the airline in 2015 when he first ran for president.
Featured image of Nigeria Airways 747 courtesy of Eric Johnston / Flickr.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership. Offer ends 11/10/2021.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 11/10/2021.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. *Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.