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Top List Of All Local & International Airlines In Nigeria(2023)

This is a comprehensive list of trusted local and international airlines in Nigeria and the services they provide.

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Travelers can take opportunity of several local or domestic airlines in Nigeria that offer flights within the country at a cheap rate.

Nigeria being the most populated black nation of the world as well as the biggest economy in Africa, the country is expected to have many operating airlines both locally and internationally right? Yes to some extent the country has numerous Airlines, some of them are operating locally while others are operating internationally.

Nigerians have lately had easy access to the air, thanks to many of the public and commercial planes operating around the country.

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In addition, these Nigerian local and international airlines provide exceptional customer service and a diverse choice of onboard offices, making them the finest in the country. As a consequence, the majority of these airlines provide a superior flying experience than their rivals.

Because we’re all worried about our own safety. Since everyone wants to get home after a trip, they chose the airline with the fewest fatalities. Thankfully, a few Nigerian airlines are licensed to provide all of these services.

What is an Airline?

An airline is a company that specializes in providing air transportation services for both people and freight.

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Airlines utilize planes to provide these services, and they may create partnerships or alliances with other airlines to sell and operate the same trip under a codeshare arrangement.

Airlines work with other airlines to sell and run the same flight under the rules of codeshare agreements, in which they both provide and operate the same route.

A governmental aviation authority’s air operating certificate or license verifies that an airline company is operating lawfully. A scheduled airline or a charter airline are the two types of airlines.

Nigeria has twenty (20) recognized airports, as well as several controlled airstrips and heliports, as well as 23 domestic carriers, 554 pilots, and 913 engineers. The indigenous airlines in Nigeria employ 1700 cabin crew members. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is served by over 22 international airlines.

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Top List of Local Airlines in Nigeria

In this article, we will consider the top 17 local airlines in Nigeria, that give travelers a safe and sound trip to different places in Nigeria and other parts of countries in the world and which is considered the best local airline in Nigeria.

Some of the notable domestic airlines in Nigeria include the likes of Arik Air, Dana Air, Air Peace and many others.

1. Dana Air

Dana Air is one of the local airlines in Nigeria which is headquartered in Ikeja and based in Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Considering Dana Air’s past, the airline has significantly improved since the 2012 tragedy.

Dana Air is a major airline in the country. The airline was founded in 2008.

This allowed the airline to reopen in 2014 under the direction of Francois Bouteiller, director of flight operations. Dana Airlines Limited, a Dana Group company, is a privately owned airline that operates Dana Air.

Dana Air, based in Ikeja, Nigeria, offers both domestic and charter flights, its white, red, and blue planes with the slogan “the smartest way to fly” offer low-cost trips.

The airline is also responsible for the operation of a virtual carrier named Imo Air, which operates scheduled passenger flights in Imo State.

Dana Air currently has five aircraft, one Boeing 737-500 and four McDonnell Douglas MD-83s, which will be replaced by a Boeing 737-800.

Dana Air is also acquiring five Boeing 737-800s from Ryanair to bolster its fleet. Dana Flights are required, yet satisfying. All flights have music and entertainment, as well as light dinners.

A flight’s unique feeding requirements must be established beforehand. Cloud 9 is the airline’s in-flight magazine.

Their fleet now consists of 22 Boeing 737-700, 737-800, CRJ900, 787-9, CRJ1000, and De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft. These planes can accommodate 72 to 149 passengers.

2. ARIK Air

The airline was founded in 2002 but commenced operation in October 2006. It is one of the major local airlines in Nigeria. Their headquarters is in Muritala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.

They fly domestic and international flights with hubs at Nnamdi Azikiwe and Kotoka International Airports. Arik Air flies to regional and long-distance locations across Africa.

Arik Air has designed a residential system for Nigeria and West Africa. It already served distant and transcontinental locations in the UK and the US.

Depending on your location and class of travel, you may be charged an excess baggage tax if your bag exceeds 30kg.

Arik air fleet is made up of 22 Boeing 737-700, 737-800, CRJ900, 787-9, CRJ1000, and De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft. These planes can accommodate 72 to 149 passengers.

Arik air ticket rates differs depending on your booking class (economy or business), destination, and departure time. Ticket prices are likely to rise if purchased less than 48 hours before departure.

In 2010, Arik Air announced that it had transported its 5 millionth passenger. In 2012, the airline again disclosed that it had transported its 10 millionth passenger.

Currently, Arik Air has a vast domestic network covering major states in Nigeria. Also, there are other West African destinations on its schedule.

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3. MedView Airline

The Murtala Muhammed International in Lagos is home to the MedView Airline’s headquarters, one of the top regional and local airlines in Nigeria. MedView Airlines also known as the airline of Nigeria was fouded in 2007 a year after Arik Air commenced operations.

MedView Airline started as charter airline that transported Nigerian citizens on Hajj flights; since then, they have expanded their services to include international and domestic flights, as well as rescue operations for Muslim pilgrims in other states. In 2012, the airline began commercial operations in Nigeria.

In 2017, Med-view Airlines Plc was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Med-view Airline is a partner with Euro-Atlantic Airways of Lisbon, Portugal and the Saudi Air Cargo. The company also holds business relationship with Pluna Air of Uruguay and Air Atlanta of Iceland.

Med-View Airline is one of the domestic airlines in Nigeria that flies to and from Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna, and Yola on eight regular routes. In addition, it now flies to Accra in Ghana and Britain’s London Gatwick Airport.

Medview Airlines is one of the top local airlines in Nigeria because of its simplicity and inexpensive costs. The airline’s Blue Flyer program rewards frequent flyers with points.

VIP Lounge access, no need for check-in and boarding, as well as an increased baggage allowance of 60kg to 76kg on international flights are some of the benefits.

Their aircraft are always clean and well-maintained. Flight attendants work very hard to make sure that every customer has a safe and comfortable flight. In all of the airline’s planes, there is enough legroom and overhead storage space.

4. Air Peace

Air Peace is reputed to be one of the best domestic airlines in the country. Allen Onyema, a Nigerian lawyer and businessman, founded the privately owned Nigerian airline in 2013 and currently delivers to 13 destinations.

Destinations for Air Peace can be found locally and internationally in places such as Accra, Ghana; Gambia; Liberia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; South Africa; and the United Arab Emirates.

In Nigeria, it stops in Abuja, Akure, Asaba, Benin City, Calabar, Enugu, Ilorin, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Owerri, Port HarcourtPort, Uyo, and Yola before heading back to Abuja.

The company’s headquarters is located in Lagos, Nigeria. Over the entire country, Air Peace offers daily passenger and charter services.

The company’s head office is located at 25 Sobo Arobiodu Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos. Air Peace was set up with the vision to be ever dependable through the creation of seamless connections and network options for domestic, regional and international markets.

They operate seven aircraft types, including the Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-500, Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 777-200ER, Boeing 777-300, Embraer ERJ-145, and Embraer E195-E2, to provide short and long-haul travel services that are safe, efficient, pleasant, and moderate.

All the three airline’s class options for passengers namely the Business Class, Premium Class, and Premium Economy class have their unique advantages for passengers to take advantage of.

As one of the local airlines in Nigeria when you fly with Air Peace Airlines, you’ll be treated to a courteous and professional crew, including experienced pilots and flight attendants.

Air Peace allows economy class customers to check-in 25kg of luggage, while business class passengers can check-in 40kg of luggage. It is without a doubt one of Nigeria’s greatest domestic airlines.

They commit the airline to the concept of TQM and follow strict quality control checks. It serves major cities in Nigeria and West Africa including the Middle East. The Air Peace loyalty program provides members with points that can be redeemed for rewards or air travel.

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5. Aero Contractors

Aero Contractors is also a major airline in Nigeria with headquarters at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.

Aero Contractors was founded in 1959 with over 1,300 people working in the airline, the airline operates domestic and international schedule services, air charter, and third party aircraft operations, largely in support of Nigeria’s extensive oil and gas industry.

The airline has two wings; Fixed Wing, for scheduled passenger services in Nigeria and West Africa, and Rotary Wing, for the helicopter services for oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

Unfortunately, Aero Contractors was adversely affected by the economic crisis leading to the suspension of all scheduled operations with effect from September 1, 2016.

Aero has a fleet of 16 fixed-wing aircraft, including one Boeing 737-400, two Boeing 737-500s, one De Havilland Dash 8-Q200, one De Havilland Dash 8-Q300, and two De Havilland Dash 8-Q400s, which it utilizes to deliver the best possible service to its customers.

They also operate air charter services, helicopter services for oil and gas industry, and third party aircraft operations. Aero Contractors operates via two branches at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja, Lagos State.

One wing for its domestic and international passenger services and another for its helicopter services. Aero contractors cover a total of thirteen destinations.

For the convenience of passengers, they also provide Wi-Fi and movies as well as individual displays and headphones for passengers to use. In-flight publications are also available.

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6. Azman Air

Mallam Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina founded Azman Air in 2010. Kano State’s Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport serves as their corporate headquarters.

In 2014, Azman began operating local flights in Nigeria. To get from Kano to Lagos to Abuja to Lagos to Maiduguri to Kaduna to Port Harcourt to Birnin Kebbi to Yola, there are more than eight possible destinations. “FLY SAFE, FLY AZMAN,” is the airline’s tagline.

The airline focuses on providing top-notch aviation services and appears to be one of the fastest-growing local airlines in Nigeria and most prominent domestic carriers.

Some of their other distinguishing characteristics are excellent passenger interactions, enticing online offerings, and operational capability measured by both promptness and safety.

As of recently, they’ve added two new-generation planes to their fleet, which includes the B737 series.

Boeing 777, the first of its sort in Nigeria’s aviation history, will lead the 2016 Hajj activities, as well as other aircraft. Azman air ply’s these destinations Kano, Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Yola, Maiduguri, Kebbi, and Port Harcourt.

7. Max Air

Max Air is a Nigerian charter airline in Nigeria with headquarters in the Kano Airport. The airline was incorporated in 2003 and currently has a fleet size of 8 aircraft.

Max Air is a domestic and international airline. Max Air has proven to be one of Nigeria’s most trustworthy carriers. The airline, based in Kano, is swiftly establishing itself as a safe, trustworthy, and affordable flight provider in Nigeria.

The airline was set up to pursue and deliver world-class excellent services based on efficiency and integrity that would stand us out in the aviation industry.

Max Air is known for their reputation when it comes to reliable and safety conscious air travel. Upon dispatch, Max Air’s management pledged their commitment to service excellence and consistency.

Currently, Max Air works in partnership with Nigeria and other African Government, especially during Hajj operations.

Max Air passengers are entitled to one piece of checked-in baggage weighing up to 20kg and one piece of in-cabin baggage weighing up to 8kg.

8. IRS Airlines

IRS Airlines is one of the local airlines in Nigeria. IRS Airlines was estalished in 2002, and it currently operates flights to and from many Nigerian cities.

It began operations in March 2010 and is based in Abuja at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, with a secondary base at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed Airport.

The IRS Airlines hanger has five Fokker 100s and one Fokker F28 Mk4000 as of April 2010.

IRS flies to the following domestic destinations:

Abuja (Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport)

Gombe (Gombe Lawanti International Airport)

Kaduna (Kaduna Airport)

Lagos (Murtala Muhammed International Airport)

Maiduguri (Maiduguri International Airport)

Port Harcourt (Port Harcourt International Airport)

Yola (Yola Airport)

Taxi services are excellent, flight delays or cancellations are rare, and the airline cares about the safety and comfort of its passengers, according to customer reports of IRS Airlines.

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9. First Nation Airline

First Nation was founded in 2011 by former Bellview CEO Kayode Odukoya. First Nation Airways Ltd is an airline in Nigeria which have its headquater Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

First Nation airline offers booked traveler flights to Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.

The airline has three Airbus A319 aircraft. The airline follows the SSS standard, which prioritizes on Safety, on-time Scheduling, and Service. Business-class passengers can check-in up to 40kg of luggage, while economy-class passengers can only check in up to 20kg.

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10. Overland Airways

Overland airway was formally founded on September 17, 1998. It is a charter and scheduled flight operator registered with the FAA.

This is one of the local airlines in Nigeria that started in 2002, it has also employed about 190 people.

The main hub of Overland Airways is Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos State’s Ikeja, where the company is based.

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja serves as the hub for the airline, which flies to 10 destinations in Nigeria. Its fleet includes four ATR 42s, three ATR 72s, and two Beechcraft 1900Ds, and it serves many important cities in Nigeria, including Abuja, Akure, Asaba, Bauchi, Dutse.

11. Green Africa Airways

Green Africa Airways Ltd is a Nigerian start-up airline, based in Lagos, Nigeria. The company was founded on 15 June 2015 by Babawande Afolabi, who serves as the curret chief executive officer.

It started operations on 12 August 2021 with the first aircraft landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria.

Green Africa Airways as one of the local airlines in Nigeria hopes to start serving the Nigerian domestic market before expanding to the rest of the African continent. It has five airplanes for passenger and delivery operations.

12. TAT Nigeria

Nigerian virtual charter airline TAT Nigeria performs their operations in Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. TAT Nigeria do frequently journeys Christian pilgrimage to Israel.

TAT Nigeria functions as a virtual airline due to its lack of a fleet and reliance on aircraft chartered from other companies. Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 747-400 were previously employed.

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13. Ibom Air

Ibom airline is one of the local airlines in Nigeria. It started operation in 2019 as a airline owned by the state. The airline is the first in Nigeria to be owned by a state government.

Its completed its first route from Victor Attah Airport Uyo to Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. This made Akwa Ibom the first state in the country to own an airline in Nigeria.

The cooperation between Ibom airline and Dana air aims to provide Nigerian travelers with the best and most comfortable service possible.

Currently Ibom Air shuttle within five of its destinations in Nigeria which are within a two-hour drive of each other. They are Lagos, Abuja, Calabar, Enugu and Uyo (Akwa Ibom Airport Hub). Seven planes are available to its passengers to serve its status as one of Nigeria’s leading airlines.

14. Allied Air

One of the local airlines in Nigeria is the allied airline. This airline was established by Valentine Tongo in 1998. It offers scheduled and charter services in Nigeria and throughout Africa.

It has different routes locally and internationally which runs five times a week. Liege is also served regularly. The aviation company has since been license to run the following international countries Accra, Freetown, Monrovia, Entebbe, and Malabo.

A total of four Boeing 727 Freighter Aircraft and three Boeing 737-400F aircraft have been added to the Allied airline fleet in other to improve their services.

15. Kabo Air

Kabo Air was founded in February 1980 by Dr. Alhaji Muhammadu Adamu Dankabo and started operations in April 1981. It is one of the local airlines in Nigeria.

Kabo is headquartered in Kano state and its base of operation is in Mallam Aminu international airport, kano state.

Kabo Air originally operated special charter services for corporate bodies, executives, and government officials.

The company stopped operating domestic services in 2001 when they focus solely on Hajj flights and international charters.

However, in 2009 the airline received approval to start international scheduled services.

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16. Pan African Airlines                         

PAN African Airlines is owned by the Bristow group. It is one of the local airlines in Nigeria, which focuses in helicopter, and fixed-wing services to oil industries. It is situated at Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Old Domestic, Ikeja, Lagos state.

17. Dornier Aviation AIEP Ltd

Dornier Aviation is one of the local airlines in Nigeria that is 40% Nigerian-owned and 60% foreign-owned, they offer local flights on a charter basis.

It was founded in the year 1979 in Kaduna, with its based located at General Aviation Service Centre, Old Kaduna Airport, Kawo, Kaduna state.

They do not offer scheduled services because they have a fleet of 4 planes. They do offer services such as agricultural flying, emergency medical evacuation services, and aerial photography.

18. Okada Air

Okada Air was a local airline in Nigeria, which was founded in 1983, the company’s head office was located in Edo State with its base at Benin Airport, Benin.

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Top International Airlines In Nigeria

Aero Contractors

Room 2058, 2nd Floor, Muritala Mohammad Intl Airport, Ikeja Lagos

Arik Air

Arik Air Aviation Center MMIA domestic wing, Ikeja, Lagos

Atlantic Express Airline

Suite 1D Princess Court, Victoria Island Lagos

Air France

South Atlantic Petroleum Towers, Plot 98, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island Lagos

Air India

British Airways

China Southern Airlines

Emirates

Ethiopian Airline

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Kenya Airways

1st Floor, Churchgate Building, Victoria Island, Lagos

Lufthansa Airlines

Lagos: 2nd Floor, Plot 30 Churchgate Building, Victoria Island, Lagos

Abuja: Transcorp Hilton Congress Hall Abuja

Port Harcourt: Hotel Presidential Port Harcourt

Qatar Airways

2nd Floor, Ecobank Building, Plot 21 Ahmadu Bello, Victoria Island Lagos

Virgin Atlantic

The Ark Towers, Plot 17, ligaliayorinde Street, Victoria Island Lagos

South African Airline

28c Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Plot 1, Wing B, South Atlantic Petroleum Towers, 2nd Floor, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island Lagos.

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Now you have the list of the local airline in Nigeria. Feel free to leave your comment in the comment section.

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