Nigeria Airways

Defunct airline (1958–2003)

Nigeria Airways

| IATA | ICAO | Call sign

|
|

WT  | NGA  | NIGERIA
Founded| 23 August 1958 (1958-08-23) (after the dissolution of WAAC)
Commenced operations| 1 October 1958 (1958-10-01)
Ceased operations| 2003 (2003)
Hubs|

* Murtala Muhammed International Airport

Secondary hubs|

* Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport

Focus cities|

* Port Harcourt International Airport

Destinations| 9 (at the time of closure)
Parent company| Government of Nigeria (100%)
Headquarters| Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
Key people| Peter Gana (CEO) (at the time of closure)[1]: 51

Nigeria Airways Ltd., more commonly known as Nigeria Airways, was a one-time Nigerian airline. The company was founded in 1958 after the dissolution of West African Airways Corporation (WAAC). It held the name  West African Airways Corporation Nigeria (WAAC Nigeria) until 1971, when it was renamed, until it ceased operations in 2003.[2] The government of Nigeria owned a majority of the airline (51%) until 1961, when it boosted its shareholding in the company to 100% and made it the country's flag carrier. At the time of dissolution, the airline's headquarters were at Airways House in Abuja. Operations were concentrated at Murtala Muhammed International Airport and served both domestic and international destinations mainly concentrated in West Africa; the network also had points in Europe, North America and Saudi Arabia. The airline was managed by a number of foreign companies, including British Airways, KLM and South African Airways.[3][4]

Nigeria Airways had its heyday in the early 1980s, just before the departure of a KLM team that had been hired to make the airline efficient and profitable. At that time, its fleet consisted of about 30 aircraft, but the carrier was two years behind with its accounts to the extent that aircraft were acquired for cash.[5][6][7] Owned or leased, the carrier operated a variety of aircraft during its history, including the Vickers VC10, the Airbus A310, the Boeing 737 and 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10, of which it flew the last one ever built. Plagued by mismanagement, corruption, and overstaffing, at the time of closure the airline had debts totalling US$528 million (equivalent to US$838 million in 2024), a poor safety record, and its operative fleet comprised a single aircraft flying domestic routes as well as two leased aircraft operating the international network.[8][9] Nigeria Airways was succeeded by Virgin Nigeria, and the ground facilities were taken over by Arik Air.

## History

[edit]

### Early years

[edit]

The airline came into being on 23 August 1958 (1958-08-23)[1]: 51 under the name West African Airways Corporation Nigeria Limited (WAAC Nigeria), also known as Nigerian Airways, to succeed the folded West African Airways Corporation (WAAC);[10] the title "WAAC" was retained due to the prestige this company had previously earned.[11] Initially, the carrier was a tripartite entity in which the Nigerian government was the major shareholder (51%), and Elder Dempster Lines and British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) held the balance (322⁄3 and 161⁄3, respectively).[1]: 51 [10][11] WAAC Nigeria inherited some aircraft previously owned by WAAC.[12] Operations started on 1 October 1958 (1958-10-01), with a BOAC Boeing 377 Stratocruiser operated on behalf of the new airline linking London Heathrow with Lagos, and Douglas DC-3s flying domestic services and a run to Dakar, the last one in conjunction with Ghana Airways.[12][13] On the same day, WAAC Nigeria signed a 15-year agreement with BOAC to charter Stratocruisers and Bristol Britannias for serving long-haul flights between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.[11] The contract also contemplated that these routes would be operated in a pool agreement, whereby tickets could be issued by one airline for flights operated by the other, with the revenues being shared.[12]

A Nigeria Airways Vickers VC-10, leased from BOAC, at Ikeja Airport in 1969. A company Fokker Friendship is in the background.

In April 1960, the fleet comprised one de Havilland Dove, eight de Havilland Herons and eight Douglas DC-3s.[10] In early 1961, Nigeria became the only owner of the company by buying the shares held by BOAC and Elder Dempster;[14] the airline became the flag carrier of the country.[12] The entire Heron fleet was withdrawn from service in March 1961 as it proved economically inviable.[14] Aimed at replacing the DC-3 fleet, five Fokker Friendship 200s were ordered late that year,[15][16] with options being taken on two more.[12] A BOAC Comet 4 inaugurated the jet services between Nigeria and London on 1 April 1962 (1962-04-01); the flight was operated in conjunction with Nigeria Airways. The Friendships joined the fleet between January and May 1963, and were deployed on regional routes, including those that served Abidjan, Accra, Bathurst, Dakar, Freetown and Robertsfield.[12] The contract with BOAC was revised and a new agreement was signed in April of the same year.[17] By June, the DC-3s had begun to be replaced by the Friendships on routes to Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Leopoldville. However, the type would continue to be deployed on the Kano–Cotonou–Lomé–Accra passenger service and the Lagos-Kano freighter route.[12] BOAC subsequently operated Vickers VC-10 services on behalf of Nigeria Airways from April 1964 until an aircraft of the type was acquired from the British state airline in October 1969 (1969-10);[18] the airplane was destroyed in an accident in November that year.[19][20] The first air link between Nigeria and the United States was launched in early October 1964 (1964-10). Called "Operation Fantastic", it linked Lagos with New York and was operated by Pan Am using Boeing 707s and Douglas DC-8s, but an agreement between both countries allowed Nigeria Airways to sell a limited number of seats on these flights.[21]

A Nigeria Airways Boeing 727-200 on the domestic apron at Lagos Ikeja Airport in June 1980. The type was first ordered in 1976.[22]

The number of employees was 2,191 at March 1970 (1970-03). At this time, the fleet comprised one Piper Aztec, one Douglas DC-3 and six Fokker F27s that worked on a domestic network and regional routes that extended west, as far as Dakar, operated in a pool agreement with Ghana Airways; the European list of destinations included Frankfurt, London, Madrid and Rome, all of them served with VC10s chartered from BOAC.[23] On 22 January 1971, the company was rebranded as Nigeria Airways.[1]: 51 At this time the airline used aircraft leasing as a common practice: Boeing 707s that flew the Lagos–London route were leased from Laker Airways and Ethiopian Airlines until a new Boeing 707-320C was incorporated into the fleet and deployed on the route in August 1971,[24][25] and in October 1971 a Boeing 737 was leased from Aer Lingus.[26] Another Boeing 707-320C was ordered in 1972, along with two Boeing 737-200s.[27] A Boeing 707 was leased from Aer Lingus in April 1972 for deployment mainly on the Lagos–London route, with the provision of crew and maintenance.[26] In October 1972, a Fokker F28 entered the fleet on a lease agreement with Fokker, and later on aircraft of this type were ordered.[28] In late 1972, a contract for management assistance was signed with Trans World Airlines, with the American carrier providing specialists in different managerial, commercial, and financial fields for five years,[29][30] but the contract was never exercised.[26] Nigeria Airways took delivery of three Boeing 707s in February 1973; they were put into service on the Lagos–London run immediately. Two Boeing 737s, with registrations 5N-ANC and 5N-AND, were delivered in the early 1970s.[26]

### Golden years

[edit]

A Nigeria Airways Boeing 737-200 at the domestic apron at Ikeja Airport in July 1974. The type was first delivered to the airline in January 1973.

At March 1975 (1975-03) the workforce was 2,400 strong and the fleet consisted of two Boeing 707-320Cs, two Boeing 737-200s, three Fokker F28s, five Fokker F27s, and one Piper Aztec, while five F28-2000s were on order.[31][32] The route network at this time comprised domestic destinations served from Kano and Lagos, and international routes to Abidjan, Amsterdam, Accra, Bathurst, Beirut, Brussels, Dakar, Douala, Frankfurt, Freetown, London, Madrid, Monrovia, New York, Paris and Rome.[31] In October 1976 (1976-10), the company became the 83rd customer for the Boeing 727, when an order for two Boeing 727-200s and another Boeing 707-320C was placed;[22] it also took possession of a Douglas DC-10-30.[33] This DC-10 was a 300-seater, all-economy aircraft that operated between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. At this time the carrier took possession of two more 707s.[26] A second DC-10-30 was ordered in early 1977.[34] On 25 April 1977 an F-27, 5N-AAW, had an accident in Sokoto when it overran the runway, and on 1 March 1978 an F-28 (5N-ANA) had a fatal accident near Kano, killing all 16 occupants of the aircraft plus two more people on the ground.[26] An order for two F28-4000s, that would complement the six F28-2000s the airline had in operation, was placed in late 1978.[35] A contract similar to the one signed with TWA in 1972 was signed with KLM in September 1979 (1979-09), this time for a period of two years.[36] It was mostly aimed at training Nigeria Airways' employees in airline management in order to make the airline efficient and profitable.[26]

A Nigeria Airways Airbus A310-200 at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in 1985. The type had been incorporated into the fleet in 1984.[37]

A service to Jeddah was launched in 1980.[26] By July 1980 (1980-07), the fleet consisted of 26 aircraft, split into three Boeing 707-320Cs, two Boeing 727-200s, two Boeing 737-200s, two DC-10-30s, two F27-200s, two F27-400Ms, four F27-600s, six F28-2000s, two F28-4000s, and one Aztec.[36] The two DC-10s were purchased for cash.[6] Nigeria Airways became Airbus' 40th customer in 1981, when it placed an order for four Airbus A310-200s.[38] Four new Boeing 737-200s were ordered in early 1981 for US$65 million (equivalent to US$225 million in 2024) including spare parts,[39] and late that year an order for four more aircraft of the type was placed.[40] In 1982, Boeing 747s were successively leased from the Danish charter airline Scanair and SAS; the aircraft were deployed on services to the United Kingdom, permitting the DC-10s to be used on new routes to Frankfurt, Paris, and Zürich.[41][42] The airline took possession of four new Boeing 737-200s in early 1983 that would replace leased aircraft of the same type; they were acquired with a loan of US$70 million that was arranged with seven major banks.[43] On 28 November 1983, a Fokker F28 (5N-ANF) crashed while on approach to Enugu, claiming 23 lives from the 72 people on board.[26] Following this accident the carrier decided to withdraw its Fokker fleet from service.[44] A military coup d'état that took place in the last day of 1983 changed the structure of the government and the airline: Bernard Banfa was appointed managing director and many of the staff trained by KLM were dismissed.[26] The 225-seater A310-200s were incorporated into the fleet in late 1984 and early 1985.[37] Three of these aircraft bore the names Rima River, River Ethiope and Lekki Peninsula.[26] The fleet was 22 strong in March 1985 (1985-03), comprising two DC-10-30s, four Airbus A310s, three Boeing 707-320Cs, two Boeing 727-200s, ten Boeing 737-200s, and one Boeing 737-200C; two Boeing 737-200s were on order and the carrier had 9,096 employees at this time.[45]

### Demise

[edit]

The introduction of unregulated IMF policies, alongside corruption,[nb 1] mismanagement and overstaffing, led to a steady decline of Nigeria Airways from the 1980s.[47] The carrier had accumulated significant debts that outstripped its revenues from the mid-1980s,[48][49][50] to the extent that aircraft were detained or impounded for unpaid debts.[51][52] The International Air Transport Association (IATA) suspended Nigeria Airways in early 1987 from the clearing house (which meant the airline could not issue tickets to fly on other IATA member airlines and the converse[53]) for accumulated debts of US$1,100,000. In late 1987 the airline had debts for approximately US$250,000,000, with a revenue of US$5,000,000 per month and expenditure of approximately US$5,175,000 a month. This situation prompted the airline to increase its domestic and international fares by 100% and 20%, respectively, in order to raise funds to alleviate the deficit, but this measure reduced the passenger traffic.[54] Even though 1,000 jobs had been cut by late 1986 and 1,700 in the course of the previous year,[50] Nigeria ordered the airline to further downsize (the number of employees was 8,500 at the time—or 500 for each aircraft in the fleet, twice the international average[53]—) and to reduce or discontinue unprofitable routes.[54] In 1988, cost-cutting measures led to the discontinuance of flights to a number of African destinations, including Cotonou, Dakar, Douala, Kinshasa, Monrovia and Nairobi, and to the transfer of some routes to the privately owned airline Okada Air; some of these routes were resumed a year later.[49][55] In December 1988 the airline dismissed 3,000 employees, a third of the workforce, in an effort to keep operations afloat.[52] In the late 1980s the airline lost a deposit worth US$350,000 for not firming up an order for six ATR-42s.[26] Financed by a Japanese leasing company, the carrier phased in the last DC-10 ever built; the aircraft was delivered in 1989, and replaced an aircraft of the same type that was lost in an accident two years earlier.[56]

A Boeing 747-200BM in Nigeria Airways livery at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in 1988. This aircraft was leased from Scandinavian Airlines.

With a payroll of 6,632 at March 1990, the airline had a fleet of three Airbus A310-200s, three Boeing 707-320Cs, eight Boeing 737-200s and two DC-10-30s. A large domestic network serving the 19 Nigerian states was operated, as well as routes to East and West Africa; intercontinental flights from Lagos to Amsterdam, Jeddah, London, New York and Rome, from Kano to Amsterdam, Jeddah, London and Rome, and from Port Harcourt to London were also undertaken.[48] The carrier suffered a major accident on 11 July 1991, when all 261 people on board a Douglas DC-8-61, registration C-GMXQ, crashed near Jeddah.[26] In 1992, Nigeria Airways had three Boeing 707s impounded in Europe, and the number of flights experienced a 32% reduction following the termination of services to Conakry, Freetown and Robertsfield (Monrovia).[26][57] Privatisation was first considered in 1993 with a proposal to split Nigeria Airways in two companies, one bearing the same name and operating domestic routes and a new one named Air Nigeria, which would undertake the international operations. In July 1994, an Airbus was impounded at London Heathrow Airport owing to a debt worth £100,000. On 21 December of the same year, a Boeing 707, registration 5N-ABK, crashed near Hadejia on a freighter flight from Jeddah, killing three of a crew of five.[57] Further staff reductions continued throughout the first half of the 1990s, and at September 1995 the airline had 4,500 employees.[58] In 1997 the UK Civil Aviation Authority banned the airline from operating into its territory citing safety concerns; in return, the Nigerian government barred British Airways from operating in the country.[59][60][61] The service was restored in 1998 when the carrier began codesharing with British Airways, deploying a leased Boeing 747-200 that wore a Nigeria Airways livery and was operated on the Lagos–London Heathrow route with mixed English and Nigerian crews. By the late 1990s, the Nigerian government decided the carrier would be privatised by selling 40% and 20% to foreign and local investors, respectively, and keeping the rest of the shares.[62] In 1999, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) was commissioned by the Nigerian government to assist in the process of restructuring and privatisation of the airline.[62] Among three options, one of them was to partner with a large European airline; Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, Swissair and Virgin Atlantic were all considered. Another alternative was to liquidate the carrier.[63]

A Nigeria Airways Boeing 707-320C at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in 1990. With registration 5N-ABK, this particular aircraft crashed in December 1994.[57]

At April 2000, the number of employees was 4,516. At this time, an Airbus A310-200, three Boeing 737-200 Advanced, one Boeing 747-200B Combi and one McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 served a route network that included Abuja, Calabar, Douala, Dubai, Jeddah, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Kinshasa, Lagos, Libreville, London, Maiduguri, Malabo, Port Harcourt, Sokoto and Yola.[64] A fleet that had numbered 32 aircraft in 1984[nb 2] had gradually reduced to just three aircraft in October 2000.[63] The United Kingdom cited safety concerns again in 2001 when it refused to allow Nigeria Airways to operate the Lagos–London route, this time regarding the Boeing 747 that was leased from Air Djibouti to fly the route.[66][67] That year, the IFC withdrew from its advisory position citing the unwillingness of both the company and the government to carry out the necessary measures that would make the airline attractive to potential investors.[68] Later on, there were various allegations claiming the airline's failure was accelerated by former Nigerian rulers who looted and mismanaged the company, to the extent that the government started an investigation into the disappearance of more than US$400 million between 1983 and 1999.[46][69][70] Launched in February 2001, a joint venture between Nigeria Airways and South African Airways that mostly relied upon the Johannesburg–Lagos–New York route was unilaterally terminated by the South African carrier in March 2002 citing a decline in passenger numbers and a deficit of US$4,900,000.[71][72]

In May 2003, when Nigeria Airways had a Boeing 737-200 as its sole serviceable aircraft, the government decided not to pump more money into the overstaffed carrier but to liquidate it. The decision was based on the declining performance of the airline's last 15 years of operations and on the carrier's debts. The number of carried passengers had fallen from 2,1 million in 1985 to just 10,000 in the first quarter of 2003, and it controlled just 6% and 1% of the domestic and the international markets, respectively. The carrier owed over US$528 million, despite the government having injected US$200 million into the company in its last decade of operations.[47] The airline ceased operations in 2003 and was liquidated a year later.[73][74] The Nigerian government later came to an agreement with Virgin Atlantic to found Virgin Nigeria, intended as a replacement.[75] Even though Virgin Nigeria succeeded Nigeria Airways,[8][76][77] the ground facilities of the folded Nigeria Airways were eventually taken over by the then-startup carrier Arik Air.[78][79]

## Corporate affairs

[edit]

Nigeria Airways had its headquarters at Airways House in Abuja at the time of dissolution.[1]: 50 It had been moved from Murtala Muhammed Airport between 1999 and 2000.[64][80] The airline logo consisted of the Nigerian flag with a green elephant named Skypower in its centre.[53][nb 3]

## Destinations

[edit]

Main article: List of Nigeria Airways destinations

At the time of closure the Nigeria Airways network consisted of four domestic destinations, namely Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt. The international network comprised five routes, to Abidjan, Dubai, Jeddah, London and New York.[1]: 51

## Fleet

[edit]

A Nigeria Airways McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 at Zurich Airport in 1983. With registration 5N-ANR, this particular aircraft was written off following a fire that completely destroyed the airframe on 10 January 1987.[82]

The following aircraft types were operated by Nigeria Airways during the course of its history:[83]

* Airbus A300B4
* Airbus A310-200[37]
* Piper Aztec[23]
* BAC One-Eleven 400
* Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
* Boeing 707-120
* Boeing 707-120B
* Boeing 707-320
* Boeing 707-320B
* Boeing 707-320C[65]
* Boeing 707-420
* Boeing 727-100
* Boeing 727-200[65]
* Boeing 737-200[65]
* Boeing 737-200 Advanced[64]
* Boeing 737-200C[65]
* Boeing 737-400
* Boeing 747-100
* Boeing 747-200[65]
* Boeing 747-200B
* Boeing 747-200 Combi[65]
* Boeing 747-200F
* Boeing 747-300
* Boeing 767-200ER
* Boeing 767-300ER
* Bristol Britannia 100
* de Havilland Comet[84]
* Douglas C-47A
* Douglas DC-3[23]
* Douglas DC-8-30
* Douglas DC-8-50
* Douglas DC-8-60
* De Havilland Dove[10]
* Fokker F27-200
* Fokker F27-400
* Fokker F27-600
* Fokker F-28-1000
* Fokker F-28-2000[65]
* Fokker F-28-4000[65]
* de Havilland Heron[10]
* McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10
* McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30[56]
* Vickers VC-10[18]
* Vickers Viscount 810

## Accidents and incidents

[edit]

Aviation Safety Network records 16 events for the airline, eight of which led to fatalities.[85] The worst accident experienced by the carrier took place on 11 July 1991, when 261 people were killed in an accident at King Abdulaziz International Airport. The following list includes events that had reported fatalities, there was a hull-loss of the aircraft involved, or both.

Date  | Location  | Aircraft  | Tail number  | Aircraft damage  | Fatalities  | Description  | Refs

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

20 November 1969 | Lagos  | VC-10-1101 | 5N-ABD  | W/O | 87/87  | The aircraft was flying the London–Rome–Kano–Lagos route as Flight 925 when it crashed on its last leg, during approach to Ikeja International Airport, after hitting trees in low visibility. The aircraft involved had been sold to Nigeria Airways by BOAC less than two months prior to the occurrence of the accident and was operated by an experienced crew.  | [86][87][88][89]
4 April 1971 | Jos | F27-200  | 5N-AAX  | W/O  | 0/41  | Swerved off the runway and hit heaps of gravel at Jos Airport, following a rejected takeoff in crosswind conditions.  | [90]
19 September 1972 | Port Harcourt | F28-1000 | PH-FPT  | W/O  | 0 | Ran off the runway upon landing at Port Harcourt Airport.  | [91]
22 January 1973 | Kano  | Boeing 707-320C | JY-ADO  | W/O  | 176/202  | Skidded off the runway and caught fire soon after one of the two main gears collapsed on landing at Kano Airport. The aircraft was due to fly the Jeddah–Lagos route, but it was diverted to Kano because of the weather. It was chartered from Alia Royal Jordanian Airlines and operated on behalf of Nigeria Airways for the Hajj season.  | [92]
25 April 1977[nb 4] | Sokoto | F27-200  | 5N-AAW  | W/O  | 0/23  | Overran the runway on landing at Sokoto Airport.  | [93][94]
1 March 1978 | Kano  | F28-1000  | 5N-ANA  | W/O  | 18 | The aircraft was operating a domestic scheduled Sokoto–Kano service, when it collided shortly before touchdown at the destination airport with a Nigerian Air Force Mig-21U trainer. All 16 people aboard the F-28 and two persons on the Mig-21U perished.  | [95][96]
28 November 1983 | Enugu | F28-2000  | 5N-ANF  | W/O  | 53/72  | Crashed in poor visibility 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi) short of the runway on a steep approach to Enugu Airport, inbound from Lagos as Flight 250. The aircraft caught fire and burned out, killing 53 occupants of the 72 occupants.  | [97][98][99][100]
10 January 1987 | Ilorin | DC-10-30 | 5N-ANR  | W/O  | 0/9  | Overshot the runway at Ilorin Airport on a training flight, catching fire.  | [82]
15 October 1988 | Port Harcourt  | Boeing 737-200  | 5N-ANW  | W/O  | 0/132  | Overran the runway on landing in heavy rain at Port Harcourt Airport; both the nosegear and the starboard main gear collapsed.  | [101]
2 October 1989 | Lagos  | Boeing 737-200  | 5N-ANX  | W/O  | 0/135  | The nosegear collapsed after overrunning the wet runway on landing at Ikeja International Airport.  | [102]
11 July 1991 | Jeddah  | DC-8-61  | C-GMXQ  | W/O  | 261/261  | Caught fire and crashed shortly after take-off from King Abdulaziz International Airport. The aircraft, chartered from the Canadian company Nolisair, was flying pilgrims back to Sokoto as Flight 2120, during the Hajj season.  | [103]
25 October 1993 | Niamey | A310-200  | Un­known  | Minor  | 1/149  | Hijacked en route from Lagos to Abuja. The hijackers demanded the resignation of Nigeria's government and to be flown to Frankfurt. The aircraft was denied permission to land in N'Djamena, and was diverted to the Niamey Airport for refuelling. It was stormed by Nigerien commandos four days later; the co-pilot was killed during the operation.  | [104]
19 December 1994[nb 5] | Kiri Kasama | Boeing 707-320C  | 5N-ABK  | W/O  | 3/5  | Crashed near Kiri Kasama after smoke in the cockpit was reported, distracting the pilots. The aircraft was operating a cargo service between Jeddah and Kano as Flight 9805.  | [105][106][107]
13 November 1995 | Kaduna | Boeing 737-200  | 5N-AUA  | W/O  | 11/138  | The aircraft experienced a wing strike following a long, tailwind landing at Kaduna Airport, inbound from Jos as Flight 357. The starboard wing hit the ground after the aircraft slewed off the runway to the left, damaging the fuel tanks and starting a fire that completely engulfed the fuselage.  | [108][109][110]

## See also

[edit]

* Airlines of Africa
* Transport in Nigeria

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ In 2003, Transparency International rated Nigeria as the second most corrupt country in the world, after Bangladesh.[46]
2. ^ According to Flight International, at March 1984 (1984-03) the aircraft park totalled 31, including one Boeing 747-200, one Boeing 747-200 Combi, two McDonnell Douglas DC-10s, two Airbus A310s, three Boeing 707-320Cs, two Boeing 727-200s, 12 Boeing 737-200s, one Boeing 737-200C, Fokker F-28-2000s and two Fokker F-28-4000s.[65]
3. ^ The flying elephant was an icon of air transport all through West Africa.[81]
4. ^ There exists a discrepancy over the date of occurrence, as it was informed to be 25 Apr,[93] or 15 May.[94]
5. ^ Discrepancies exist on the date of occurrence of this event, as it was informed it took place on 19 December,[105][106] 20 December,[107] and 21 December.[57]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f

* "Directory: world airlines – Nigeria Airways (page 50)". Flight International. 163 (4876). 1–7 April 2003. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017.
* "Directory: world airlines – Nigeria Airways (page 51)". Flight International. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017.

2. ^ Kolawole, Simon (22 July 2018). "Between Nigeria Airways and Nigeria Air". TheCable. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
3. ^ Adujie, Paul I. (13 October 2004). "Falcons' Victory, Nigeria Airways Failure; Metaphors Nigeria's Malaise". Nigerian Village Square. Archived from the original on 4 September 2013.
4. ^ "Nigerian pilots threaten strike action". Flight International. Lagos: 1338. 19 November 1983. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
5. ^ "Nigeria Airways halves workforce". BBC News. 4 January 2002. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017.
6. ^ a b "Africa's fastest-growing airline". Flight International. 120 (3786): II. 28 November 1981. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017.
7. ^ "Africa's fastest-growing airline". Flight International. 120 (3786): IV. 28 November 1981. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017.
8. ^ a b "Virgin takes to Nigeria's skies". BBC News. 28 September 2004. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013.
9. ^ Isaacs, Dan (15 May 2002). "Nigeria gets tough on air safety". BBC News. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013.
10. ^ a b c d e "Airlines of the World – Nigerian Airways". Flight. 77 (2665): 505. 8 April 1960. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
11. ^ a b c "B.O.A.C in West Africa". Flight. 2593 (74): 564. 3 October 1958. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.
12. ^ a b c d e f g Guttery (1998), p. 143.
13. ^ "Civil Aviation..." Flight: 603. 10 October 1958. Archived from the original on 3 December 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
14. ^ a b "World airlines survey... – Nigeria Airways". Flight: 501. 13 April 1961. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015.
15. ^ "Air commerce". Flight. 80 (2743): 563. 5 October 1961. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015.
16. ^ "Air commerce – Brevities". Flight. 80 (2742): 524. 28 September 1961. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
17. ^ "Air commerce". Flight International. 2825 (83): 632. 2 May 1963. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014.
18. ^ a b "The last VC10 delivered". Flight International: 292. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
19. ^ "Another Nigerian 707?". Flight International: 53. 13 January 1972. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
20. ^ "AIR TRANSPORT..." Flight International: 741. 27 May 1971. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
21. ^ "Operation Fantastic". Flight International: 695. 22 October 1964. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012.
22. ^ a b "Airliner market". Flight International. 110 (3526): 1065. 9 October 1976. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
23. ^ a b c "World airlines 1970 – Nigeria Airways". Flight International. 97 (3185): 492. 26 March 1970. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015.
24. ^ "707 for Nigeria". Flight International. 100 (3257): 238. 12 August 1971. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017.
25. ^ "Air transport..." Flight International. 98 (3199): 6. 2 July 1970. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017.
26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Guttery (1998), p. 145.
27. ^ "Airline directory up-dated – October". Flight International. 102 (3318): 487. 12 October 1972. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
28. ^ "First stretched F.28 order". Flight International. 103 (3330): 8. 4 January 1973. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
29. ^ "Airlines updated". Flight International. 104 (3358): 86. 19 July 1973. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013.
30. ^ "Help for Nigeria". Flight International. 102 (3321): 636. 9 November 1972. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
31. ^ a b "World Airline Directory – Nigeria Airways Ltd". Flight International. 108 (3445): 495. 20 March 1975. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
32. ^ "Airliner market". Flight International. 107 (3448): 587. 10 April 1975. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
33. ^ "Air transport". Flight International. 110 (3529): 1299. 30 October 1976. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
34. ^ "Airliner market". Flight International. 111 (3549): 691. 19 March 1977. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
35. ^ "Airliner market". Flight International. 114 (3639): 2158. 16 December 1978. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
36. ^ a b "World airline directory – Nigeria Airways". Flight International. 118 (3716): 332. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
37. ^ a b c "Market place". Flight International. 127 (3941): 8. 5 January 1985. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
38. ^ "Airbus signs fortieth customer". Flight International. 119 (3756): 1217. 2 May 1981. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
39. ^ "Airliner market". Flight International. 119 (3740). 10 January 1981. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
40. ^ "Airliner market". Flight International. 120 (3790): 1883. 26 December 1981. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
41. ^ "Marketplace". Flight International: 186. 24 July 1982. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017.
42. ^ "Airliner market". Flight International: 910. 10 April 1982. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017.
43. ^ "Air transport". Flight International. 123 (3851): 510. 26 February 1983. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
44. ^ "Fokker keeps the pressure on Africa". Flight International. 128 (3967): 6. 6 July 1985. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
45. ^ "World Airline Directory – Nigeria Airways". Flight International. 127 (3953): 103F. 30 March 1985. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
46. ^ a b "Nigeria seeks lost airways money". BBC News. 24 November 2003. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
47. ^ a b "Nigeria set for new carrier". FlightGlobal. Airline Business. 1 September 2003. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
48. ^ a b "World airline directory—Nigeria Airways". Flight International. 137 (4207): 114. 14–20 March 1990. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017.
49. ^ a b "Nigeria Airways resumes African routes". Flight International. 136 (4183): 21. 23 September 1989. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
50. ^ a b "Nigeria Airways cuts back". Flight International. 130 (4043). Lagos: 3. 27 December 1986. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013.
51. ^ "Nigerian Airbus detained". Flight International. 133 (4102). Bordeaux: 3. 27 February 1988. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013.
52. ^ a b "Nigeria Air Cuts Jobs". The New York Times. 15 December 1988. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017.
53. ^ a b c Brooke, James (3 August 1987). "Nigeria's Flying Elephant". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017.
54. ^ a b "Nigeria tries to reduce debts". Flight International. 132 (4091). Lagos: 8. 5 December 1987. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013.
55. ^ "News in brief – Nigeria relaunches". Flight International. 136 (4181): 9. 9 September 1989. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
56. ^ a b "Commercial aircraft of the world – DC-10". Flight International. 136 (4185): 70. 7 October 1989. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.
57. ^ a b c d Guttery (1998), p. 146.
58. ^ Endres, Gunter (4 October 1995). "New broom sweeps Nigeria Airways". FlightGlobal. London. Airline Business. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017.
59. ^ "London-Lagos air links to restart". BBC News. 29 September 1998. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
60. ^ "Nigeria hits rock bottom". FlightGlobal. Airline Business. 1 August 1998. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
61. ^ "BA resumes Nigeria flights". BBC News. 29 July 1998. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
62. ^ a b Kingsley-Jones, Max (15 December 1999). "Nigeria continues rebuilding as privatisation looms". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017.
63. ^ a b Tumba, Simon (1 October 2000). "Nigeria Airways faces tough choices". FlightGlobal. Lagos. Airline Business. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017.
64. ^ a b c "World Airline Directory–Nigeria Airways". Flight International. 157 (4722): 94. 4–10 April 2000. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017.
65. ^ a b c d e f g h i

* "World airline directory – Nigeria Airways (page 870)". Flight International. 125 (3908). 31 March 1984. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013.
* "World airline directory – Nigeria Airways (page 871)". Flight International. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013.

66. ^ "Nigeria airways takes off for London". BBC News. 20 November 2001. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
67. ^ "Britain Stops Nigeria Airways from Returning to Lagos-London Flight". People's Daily. 17 August 2001. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017.
68. ^ "World Bank quits Nigerian privatisation". BBC News. 22 May 2001. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017.
69. ^ "Fresh fraud probe for Nigeria Airways". BBC News. 12 December 2002. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017.
70. ^ "Politicians probe Nigeria Airways 'sale'". BBC News. 26 August 2002. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017.
71. ^ "Routes". Flight International. 26 March 2002. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
72. ^ "SAA scraps Nigerian joint venture". BBC News. 12 March 2002. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017.
73. ^ Aliyu, Abdullateef (31 May 2016). "12 years after liquidation, Nigeria Airways echoes". Daily Trust. Lagos. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016.
74. ^ Dunn, Graham (25 November 2010). "AB25: Births, deaths and marriages". FlightGlobal. Airline Business. Archived from the original on 7 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
75. ^ Turner, Aimée (24 May 2005). "Lawsuit could stall Virgin launch". Flight International. London. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017.
76. ^ "Africa report: Survival test". FlightGlobal. Airline Business. 21 November 2006. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017.
77. ^ "Virgin Nigeria takes to the air". FlightGlobal. Airline Business. 4 October 2005. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
78. ^ Ezard, Kerry (9 May 2006). "Arik aims to shake up Nigeria". Flight International. London. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017.
79. ^ Darren, Darren (4 May 2006). "Bombardier places first African CRJ900s with Nigerian startup Arik". Flight International. Washington DC. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017.
80. ^ "World Airline Directory–Nigeria Airways". Flight International: 90. 31 March – 6 April 1999. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017.
81. ^ Seekings, John (31 October 1958). "Where Elephants Fly – The story of Nigeria's airline". Flight: 685. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017.
82. ^ a b Accident description for 5N-ANR at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 28 January 2012.
83. ^ "SubFleets for: Nigeria Airways". AeroTransport Data Bank. 15 January 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
84. ^ "The Comet is twenty..." Flight International. 96 (3151): 172. 31 July 1969. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
85. ^ "Accident record for Nigeria Airways". Aviation Safety Network. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
86. ^ Accident description for 5N-ABD at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 24 January 2012.
87. ^ "No pay-out". Flight International: 40. 9 July 1970. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
88. ^ "Fatal Accidents on Public Transport 1969". Flight International: 85. 15 January 1970. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
89. ^ "First VC10 accident". Flight International: 830. 27 November 1969. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
90. ^ Accident description for 5N-AAX at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 28 January 2012.
91. ^ Accident description for PH-FPT at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 25 January 2012.
92. ^ Accident description for JY-ADO at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 23 January 2012.
93. ^ a b Accident description for 5N-AAW at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 27 January 2011.
94. ^ a b "1977 first nine-month statistics – Non-fatal Incidents: Scheduled Flights" (pdf). Flight International: 1215. 22 October 1977. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
95. ^ Accident description for 5N-ANA at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 25 January 2012.
96. ^ "Airline accidents". Flight International: 680. 11 March 1978. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
97. ^ Accident description for 5N-ANF at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 27 January 2012.
98. ^ "Airline flight safety: 1983 reviewed". Flight International. 125 (3899): 286. 28 January 1984. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
99. ^ "Nigeria shake-up in wake of crash". Flight International: 6. 18 May 1985. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
100. ^ "At least 67 people were killed in the crash..." UPI. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
101. ^ Accident description for 5N-ANW at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 30 January 2012.
102. ^ Accident description for 5N-ANX at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 14 August 2011.
103. ^ Accident description for C-GMXQ at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 24 January 2012.
104. ^ Hijacking description at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 25 January 2012.
105. ^ a b Accident description for 5N-ABK at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 6 July 2017.
106. ^ a b "Air Algerie crash in UK kills five". Flight International: 4. 4–10 January 1995. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017.
107. ^ a b "Airline safety review 1994 – Fatal accidents: Non-passenger flights". Flight International: 39. 18–24 January 1995 [1994]. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017.
108. ^ Accident description for 5N-AUA at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 25 January 2012.
109. ^ "Airline safety review – Fatal accidents: scheduled passenger services". Flight International: 26. 17–23 January 1996. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017.
110. ^ "American Airlines MD-83 crashed on approach". Flight International. 22 November 1995. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Guttery, Ben R. (1998). Encyclopedia of African Airlines. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. ISBN 0-7864-0495-7.

## External links

[edit]

* Tribulations of Nigeria Airways \- Flight International reporting inquiry in 1969 on Nigeria Airways

* v
* t
* e

Airlines of Nigeria

Scheduled|

* Aero Contractors
* Air Peace
* Arik Air
* Azman Air
* Dana Air
* Green Africa Airways
* Ibom Air
* Max Air
* Overland Airways
* United Nigeria Airlines

Charter|

* Dornier Aviation Nigeria
* Max Air
* Pan African Airlines

Cargo|

* Allied Air

Defunct|

* ADC Airlines
* Afrijet Airlines
* Air Midwest
* Air Nigeria
* Albarka Air
* Al-Dawood Air
* Associated Aviation
* Bellview Airlines
* Capital Airlines
* Chanchangi Airlines
* Chrome Air Service
* Concord Airlines
* Dasab Airlines
* Earth Airlines
* EAS Airlines
* EAS Cargo Airlines
* Easy Link Aviation
* Executive Airlines Services
* Elders Colonial Airways
* First Nation Airways
* Fleet Air Nigeria
* Freedom Air Services
* Fresh Air
* IRS Airlines
* Kabo Air
* Mangal Airlines
* Med-View Airline
* Merchant Express Aviation
* Nicon Airways
* Nigeria Airways
* Okada Air
* TAT Nigeria
* Premium Air Shuttle
* Savanah Airlines
* Skyline
* Skypower Express Airways
* Slok Air
* Sosoliso Airlines
* Wings Aviation

Portals:

* Nigeria
* Aviation
* Companies

Nigeria Airways at Wikipedia's sister projects:

* Media from Commons

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template