UNA Gears up for Regional Operations In Q4

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United Nigeria Airline’s Aircraft

The United Nigeria Airlines, UNA, has announced its preparedness to explore the West Coast of Africa towards the last quarter of the year, Q4, 2023, as the IATA’s Operational Safety Audit, IOSA certification recently earned, has firmly placed the airline on the right pedestal to play in the first division league of the global airlines’ community.

The Chief Operating Officer, UNA,Engr. Osita Okonkwo, gave the hint at the recently concluded Abuja retreat for Station Managers of United Nigeria Airlines, UNA, held at the Dome, on Adekunle Fajuyi Street, in the Central Business District, CBD, of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

Engr. Okonkwo noted that the UNA “management is committed to boosting its capacity through massive fleet expansion as it envisions commencement of flight operations into the West African sub-region”

He also announced further at the retreat that, the IOSA certification was a great boost to the airline’s vision of starting in earnest, to service the West Coast of Africa with the UNA niche services that had endeared the airline to Nigerians.

Okonkwo added that all necessary documentation was completed and interim approvals procured which had made the airline eligible to commence engagement with the Civil Aviation Authority of each of the various sovereign African countries and the applications for flight operations made.

He, however, explained that “commencing regional flight is a process and the Airline is following through step by step to achieve its objective before the end of the year”, Okonkwo said.

The COO enthused, “It is a reality that is going to happen very soon. In keeping with our strategy, we started with Nigeria, next is the region which is West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, North Africa, and South Africa”.

Okonkwo reiterated thus, “We have done all the processes, the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification is a necessary requirement, we get into IATA registry and membership, now we have been designated to operate a number of routes”.

Speaking on the importance of the retreat, the Airline’s Chief Operating Officer said the move by the airline to commence regional flights is one of the gains of the retreat.

Recall that United Nigeria Airlines began operations in February 2021 with initial flight operations to Enugu, Asaba, Lagos, and Abuja. It later expanded to bring its services to Owerri, Warri, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, and Anambra airports.

The fallout from the retreat revealed that the airline, UNA, is also poised to begin operating into Benin City, Edo State, and Jos Airport, Plateau State, in consonance with its mission statement of flying to unite Nigerians with their destinations in safety and comfort.