SIMPLE FLYING
After a long and challenging process, Nigeria Air has taken delivery of its first aircraft. The Boeing 737-800 with retrofitted winglets was spotted this morning at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) and has finally arrived in Nigeria, where it was met with a water cannon salute.
Although it is a monumental achievement for the government, the delivery of the aircraft has received mixed reactions. The Nigeria Air project has been in discussion for nearly eight years. Now, the public waits anxiously to see if the airline will be launched before May 29, as the aviation minister promised.
A promise by the outgoing government
On February 29, Nigeria held a presidential election to elect new national leaders. The outgoing government had until May 29 to conclude its business and officially hand over power. After assuming the presidency in 2015, Muhammadu Buhari promised to revive the national carrier before the end of his term, and his government has fought tooth and nail to achieve this goal.
Following the elections, Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika vowed to launch the carrier before leaving office. Although the first aircraft is ready to be delivered, there is a lot of work still to be done if it is to enter service within 72 hours…
