United Nigeria Becomes Full Member Of African Airlines Association
United Nigeria Airlines has been admitted as a full member of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) five years after it commenced commercial flight operations.
AFRAA collectively represents more than 85 percent of total international traffic carried by African airlines with strategic priorities to accelerate Single African Air Transport Market, promote intra-African trade and tourism, and enhance operational excellence across member airlines.
Mr Abderahmane Berthé, the Secretary General of AFRAA said the body was excited to welcome United Nigeria Airlines into the AFRAA fraternity.
Berthé said the admission of UNA would further strengthen the continental body’s presence in Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest and fastest-growing aviation markets.
He described Nigeria as Africa’s most populous nation and one of its most dynamic aviation markets adding that United Nigeria Airlines exemplifies the resilient, forward-looking spirit of the African airline industry.
“At AFRAA, United Nigeria Airlines will now have access to our full suite of advocacy, joint projects, commercial intelligence, capacity building, and networking resources.
“We will work to elevate their growth and advance the cause of truly unified African skies,” he said.
Also speaking, Chief Obiora Okonkwo, the Executive Chairman of UNA said joining AFRAA as a full member was a defining moment for United Nigeria Airlines and for Nigerian aviation as a whole.
Okonkwo said UNA had a vision to unite and connect Nigerians more closely to the rest of the continent adding that AFRAA membership would be a better platform to advance that vision contribute meaningfully to the realisation of the Single African Air Transport Market.
According to him, United Nigeria Airlines joins a network of over 40 member airlines across the continent and we look forward to working with AFRAA and its members to build a more integrated and competitive African aviation industry.
“Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation and one of its fastest-growing economies, is central to the realisation of a truly integrated African aviation market.
United Nigeria Airlines commenced its commercial operations in February, 2021 with a mission to enhance domestic connectivity across Nigeria and advance regional integration within West Africa.
It operates a diverse modern fleet of Boeing 737-800NG, Embraer 145, A-320, Embraer 190 and CRJ 900 jets, and currently serves 14 domestic routes.
These include Abuja, Anambra, Asaba, Benin, Ekiti, Enugu, Ilorin, Kano, Lagos, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Warri and Yenagoa with plans to open four new ones this year.
United Nigeria Airlines also flies to Accra, Ghana’s capital and has been designated by the Nigerian government to fly to the USA, Canada, UAE, UK, Italy, Turkey and other regional and continental routes with more destinations expected.
United Nigeria recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Guinea-Bissau to establish a national carrier and has achieved the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification.
UNA is also a member of the IATA Clearing House, demonstrating its commitment to global safety and operational standards.
The membership of AFRAA has multiple benefits including collective advocacy, network and partnership facilitation, market intelligence, operational efficiency and joint negotiations.