BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
United Nigeria Airlines has unveiled ambitious expansion plans that will see it launch flights to several West African cities, while also pursuing new routes to Europe, North America, the Middle East and Southern Africa over the next two years.
The airline said it is preparing to commence services to Monrovia in Liberia, Banjul in The Gambia, Dakar in Senegal, Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire and Conakry in Guinea as part of a strategic push to strengthen its footprint across the West African sub-region.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the secretariat of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos on Thursday, the Chief Commercial Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Adedayo Olawuyi, said the carrier is positioning itself for significant growth following the acquisition of additional aircraft and plans for further fleet expansion.
Olawuyi described United Nigeria Airlines as Nigeria’s second-largest domestic airline and said the company is pursuing a phased expansion programme aimed at increasing connectivity within Africa before extending operations to major international destinations.
According to him, the airline has already commenced processes required for entry into the proposed markets, including regulatory approvals and applications for foreign operator permits.
“As you know, we have just acquired some aircraft, and we still have more on the way. Our plan is to grow within the region and also internationally. In the short term, we are looking to increase our presence in West Africa, starting with routes such as Monrovia, Banjul, Dakar, Abidjan and Conakry,” he said.
The airline is also moving ahead with a previously announced partnership in Guinea-Bissau aimed at helping establish a national carrier for the country.
Olawuyi noted that the initiative would further deepen United Nigeria Airlines’ presence in West Africa and enhance its regional fleet deployment.
Beyond West Africa, the airline plans to expand into Central Africa with proposed services to Douala, Cameroon, and Libreville, Gabon. It is also considering Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of its long-term African network development strategy.
Olawuyi said trade and economic opportunities remain strong drivers of the airline’s expansion plans despite occasional diplomatic or social tensions that may affect certain markets.
Looking beyond the continent, he disclosed that the airline is targeting routes to the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Turkey, Dubai and Saudi Arabia within the next six to 24 months.
He, however, stressed that the timelines for the proposed services remain subject to aircraft deliveries, regulatory clearances and the granting of operating permits by the relevant authorities.
“All of this is subject to aircraft delivery, regulatory approvals, and obtaining foreign operator or foreign carrier permits, depending on the country. But for all of those destinations, we have already started the process, and for some of them, we are already very far along,” he said.
To support its growth plans, Olawuyi said the airline is actively exploring partnerships with local and international carriers through interline and code-share agreements, which would enable it to access new markets while minimizing operational risks.
According to him, such partnerships are particularly important for destinations where competition is intense or passenger traffic may not initially justify direct operations.
He revealed that discussions are ongoing with several airlines within Nigeria, West Africa and other regions, although details of the prospective partners are yet to be made public.
The executive added that United Nigeria Airlines could also leverage aircraft leasing arrangements to accelerate fleet growth where outright acquisitions are not immediately feasible.
Industry analysts say the airline’s expansion drive reflects growing competition among Nigerian carriers seeking a larger share of regional and international air travel markets, especially following renewed efforts to improve air connectivity across Africa under the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative.
If successfully implemented, the proposed routes could significantly boost trade, tourism and business travel between Nigeria and key destinations across Africa and beyond.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
