United Nigeria Airlines to expand fleet to 11, launches international flights by Q2 2026
Nike Popoola
United Nigeria Airlines has said that it would soon add additional aircraft to its fleet before the end of the second quarter of 2026 which will bring the number to 11.
This was revealed by the Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, during press conference held in Lagos in celebration of its 5th anniversary
Okonkwo who gave a brief history of the airline’s trajectory from launching in February 2021 with four narrow-body aircraft on the Lagos-Enugu route, he said they now operate 10 aircraft and connects 16 Nigerian states. It has also commenced operations to Accra, Ghana.
The airline’s CEO said that as they plan to scale, six Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft has been acquired from Southwest Aviation and negotiations are being finalised for three additional aircraft of the same type to be delivered from March 2026, when the first two aircraft arrive, with the rest expected before the end of the second quarter. The airline has leased two Airbus A330-200 aircraft from Anka Aviation in Turkey to support intercontinental services. The first aircraft will arrive on 26 July 2026, while the second is expected between July and October.
“To add to our existing 10 aircraft in our Opspec as at today, we have acquired six numbers of 737 – 800 NG from Southwest Aviation and finalising negotiations for additional three numbers of the same aircraft type all scheduled to be delivered before the end of 2nd quarter, starting from March 2026 when we take delivery of the first two aircraft. We had also leased two numbers A330 – 200 wide body aircraft to support our international operations from Anka Aviation Turkey, to be delivered between July and October 2026 with first delivery on 26th of July, amongst other aircraft acquisition negotiations that deliveries may mature beyond 2026,” Okonkwo said.
Planned long-haul destinations include Dubai, Jeddah, Rome, New York and the United Kingdom, with Professor Okonkwo saying; “Our ambition is clear: to transform United Nigeria Airlines from a leading national carrier into a recognised continental aviation powerhouse. We plan to start additional six regional and continental routes on or before the second quarter of 2026. These routes include but not limited to Dakar, Monrovia, Johannesburg etc. Plans are in advance stage to commence international flights to Gulf states, Europe and America by summer 2026 everything being equal. These destinations include, Dubai, Jedah, Rome, New York, UK etc.”
He also revealed that United Nigeria has migrated from equivalent maintenance systems to an Approved Maintenance Organisation structure. This transition serves as a precursor to establishing a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility within three years. “We have migrated from equivalent maintenance systems to AMO as a prelude to our MRO within the next three years,” he stated.
Reflecting on the airline’s journey, Professor Okonkwo acknowledged the challenges faced since inception. “Nigeria’s aviation environment is complex from COVID-19 era shutdowns to regulatory hurdles, currency volatility and infrastructure constraints. Yet, each challenge strengthened our resolve and sharpened our focus,” he said.
He said within five years, the airline became a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and achieved IOSA certification within two years of operations milestones. The airline also unveiled initiatives such as “Harmony,” its inflight magazine, “Unity Rewards,” its loyalty programme, and the UNA Foundation focused on education, healthcare and aviation training.
