The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has said that Nigeria’s new national carrier will commence operation in the first quarter of 2022.
Sirika disclosed this while addressing State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Minister unveiled the name and logo of the new national carrier, Nigeria Air, in 2018 at the Farnborough International Airshow in London. The project was later suspended indefinitely
“I regret to announce that the Federal Executive Council has taken the tough decision to suspend the National Carrier Project in the interim. All commitments due will be honoured. We thank the public for the support as always,” had said at the time.
Sirika said the new national carrier is long overdue and the private sector-run airline will be in operation by early 2022, with possibly cheaper rates.
He noted that the new national carrier is expected to be a viable airline and is potentially poised to cater to millions of travelers in Nigeria and Africa.
He claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic forced postponement of the initial date planned for the establishment of the national carrier.
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