| Airline: | Air Nigeria |
| Iata: | VK |
| Icao: | ANP |
| Callsign: | NICON FLIERS |
| Parent: |
|
| Founded: | 2004 (as Virgin Nigeria) |
| Commenced: | 28 June 2005 |
| Ceased: | 10 September 2012 |
| Headquarters: | Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Key People: | |
| Frequent Flyer: | Eagleflier |
| Fleet Size: | 12 |
| Destinations: | 19 |
Air Nigeria (originally Virgin Nigeria Airways, and then Nigerian Eagle Airlines) was the national flag carrier of Nigeria,[1] which operated scheduled regional and domestic passenger services. The airline's base was Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, its head office was in Lagos Island, Lagos,[2] and its registered office was in Ikoyi, Lagos.[3]
The airline, which effectively replaced the defunct Nigeria Airways, was founded in 2004 as a joint venture between Nigerian investors and the Virgin Group. Virgin withdrew from the business between 2008 and 2010. Following two name changes, Air Nigeria announced on 6 September 2012 that it had made its staff redundant and ceased operations on 10 September 2012.[4]
Nigerian institutional investors owned 51% of the company and Virgin Atlantic the remaining 49%. The airline's inaugural flight was on 28 June 2005 from Lagos to London Heathrow, using an Airbus A340-300 aircraft. Virgin Nigeria quickly became one of Nigeria's largest airlines, carrying its 1,000,000th passenger and 4,000th ton of freight within two years of operation. The airline also received accolades including THISDAY Awards 2006 Airline of the year[5] and a nomination for 2006 African Airline of the year by ASATA (Association of South African Travel Agents).[6] Virgin Nigeria had plans to make Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja its second base, where, in addition to its Lagos base Murtala Muhammed International Airport, it would serve all countries in West Africa.[7]
On 19 August 2008, Virgin Atlantic announced that it was in talks to sell its 49 percent stake and reviewing whether it was appropriate that the Virgin brand should remain linked to Virgin Nigeria.[8] This followed a dispute which arose after Virgin Nigeria's domestic operations were moved against its will by the Ministry of Transportation to Terminal 2. Virgin Nigeria had twice refused the directive to relocate its domestic operations from the international terminal, citing the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding it had signed with the previous (Olusegun Obasanjo) administration, and pending appeal in a Lagos High court, as reasons for not complying.
On 9 January 2009, Virgin Nigeria announced it would suspend all long haul flights to London Gatwick and Johannesburg, effective 27 January 2009.[9]
On 17 September 2009, Virgin Nigeria announced on its website it had rebranded as Nigerian Eagle Airlines. Nigerian Eagle Airlines also stated that it planned to focus on domestic and regional flights with further expansion into Europe and eventually the United States of America.[10] Virgin retained its 49% stake in the new Nigerian Eagle Airlines with the remaining 51% held by Kassy Olisakwe.
On 2 June 2010, following the acquisition of a majority share in the airline, Jimoh Ibrahim, the new Chairman, announced that the airline had undergone a further name change to Air Nigeria Development Limited, branded as Air Nigeria.[11] On 13 June 2012, the carrier was grounded by regulators for safety checks.[12]
On 6 September 2012 Air Nigeria announced that the management had fired its staff ‘for being disloyal' and the airline ceased all its local, regional, and international operations.[13] Operations ceased on 10 September 2012.
On the 19 September 2018, the Nigerian government suspended the plans to launch Air Nigeria indefinitely.[14] No concise reasons were given for the suspension.[15]
See main article: List of Air Nigeria destinations.
The Air Nigeria fleet consisted of the following aircraft shortly before it ceased operations (as of April 2012):[19]
| Aircraft | In Fleet | On Order | Passengers | Note | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | Y | Total | |||||
| Airbus A330-200 | 2 | - | 24 | 244 | 268 | Leased from EgyptAir | |
| Boeing 737-300 | 8 | - | 16 | 100 | 116 | ||
| Boeing 737-400 | 1 | - | |||||
| Embraer 190AR | 2 | - | 12 | 84 | 96 | ||
| Total | 13 | - | |||||
Before rebranding, Virgin Nigeria had also operated the following aircraft:[20]
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 2 | 2005 | 2007 | Leased from BH Air | |
| Airbus A330-200 | 3 | 2007 | 2007 | Leased from British Midland International | |
| Airbus A340-300 | 2 | 2005 | 2006 | Leased from Virgin Atlantic | |
| ATR 42-500 | 1 | 2008 | 2009 | Leased from Interstate Airlines | |
| Boeing 737-300 | 2 | 2005 | 2007 | Leased from GECAS | |
| Boeing 767-300ER | 2 | 2007 | 2009 | Leased from SmartLynx Airlines | |
| Fokker 50 | 1 | 2007 | 2008 | Leased from Denim Air |