Olawuyi
Airline targets 9 new regional routes plus long-haul to UK, US, Canada, Turkey, Dubai, Saudi within 24 months; reports GBOYEGA ADEOYE
United Nigeria Airlines is plotting its biggest expansion yet, with plans to launch flights to Monrovia, Banjul, Dakar, Abidjan, and Conakry in the short term as it pushes deeper into West and Central Africa.
Chief Commercial Officer Adedayo Olawuyi disclosed this Thursday during a courtesy visit to the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents, LAAC, secretariat in Lagos.
He said the airline, currently Nigeria’s second-largest domestic carrier, is leveraging new aircraft deliveries to grow both regionally and internationally.
“In the short term, we are looking to increase our presence in West Africa, starting with Monrovia, Banjul, Dakar, Abidjan and Conakry, Olawuyi said. Central Africa comes next, with Douala and Libreville on the map.”
He added that Johannesburg is also in view. “Despite the attacks, we will continue to look at South Africa, because it’s about more than the issues happening today, it’s about trade between the two countries.”
Beyond Africa, United Nigeria is preparing for intercontinental flights. The UK, US, Canada, Turkey, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia are all targeted within the next 6 to 24 months.
“We have already started the process, and for some of them, we are already very far along,” Olawuyi noted, adding that timelines depend on aircraft delivery and regulatory approvals for foreign operator permits.
The expansion also includes Guinea-Bissau, where the airline has a previously announced partnership to help establish a national carrier for the country. That deal, Olawuyi said, will boost the airline’s fleet presence across West Africa.
On how it will compete on crowded routes, United Nigeria is leaning on partnerships. Olawuyi cited the African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” The airline has begun interline and code-share talks with local and international carriers to fast-track market entry.
“You can’t do anything by yourself,” he said. “There are some markets we can’t enter on our own, maybe because of high competition, or because traffic numbers aren’t enough to justify our own direct flight. Even on routes like Canada and the US, we might start with a code-share before launching our own service.”
Leasing is also on the table to accelerate growth if aircraft acquisition delays. “If we’re unable to acquire our own aircraft, we can opt for a lease instead, which will also help us achieve our goals faster,” Olawuyi said.
With fresh metal coming in and routes already in the regulatory pipeline, United Nigeria is signaling intent: consolidate dominance at home, stitch West Africa together, then take on the long-haul market.
For a sector that has struggled with connectivity, the move could reposition Lagos as more than a domestic hub.
