Enugu Air is set to reposition Enugu as a regional aviation gateway with the launch of direct flights from Akanu Ibiam International Airport to Douala, Cameroon, opening a new connection between South-Eastern Nigeria and Central Africa.

The new Enugu-Douala service, scheduled to commence on September 23, will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays with an Embraer E170 aircraft.

Beyond connecting Nigeria and Cameroon, the airline said the new route is structured to make Enugu a convenient connecting point for passengers travelling from Lagos and Abuja to the Central African market.

Chief Operating Officer of Enugu Air, Ugonna Agubuokwu, said the new service would expand the role of Enugu in regional air travel by bringing businesses, families and commercial opportunities in Nigeria and Cameroon closer together.

“This is more than the introduction of a new route; it is about creating stronger connections between Nigeria and Cameroon and making regional travel more accessible, convenient and seamless for our passengers,” Agubuokwu said.

The airline said the new service would particularly provide traders and business travellers from the South-East with a direct alternative to travelling through Lagos before connecting to Cameroon or undertaking lengthy overland journeys.

Under the schedule, flights will depart Enugu at 12:45 p.m. and arrive at Douala International Airport at 1:45 p.m. The return flight will leave Douala at 2:30 p.m. and arrive in Enugu at 3:30 p.m.

Agubuokwu said the timing was deliberately designed to accommodate passengers connecting from Lagos and Abuja, potentially allowing travellers from the two major Nigerian cities to use Enugu as their gateway to Douala.

“The timing has been optimised so that passengers can conveniently connect from Lagos and Abuja. For business, for opportunity, and for the connections that matter, Africa is closer than you think,” he said.

The launch marks a shift in Enugu Air’s operations from an exclusively domestic network to regional services, with the airline seeking to extend the reach of its Enugu-based operations beyond Nigeria.

Its existing domestic network covers Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Asaba, Benin City, Owerri and Warri.

With the introduction of the Douala route, Enugu is expected to take on a new role within the airline’s network, serving not only passengers originating from the South-East but also travellers from other parts of Nigeria seeking access to Central and West African destinations.

The development is also expected to strengthen direct air connectivity between the South-East and Cameroon by providing an alternative to itineraries that require passengers to connect through Lagos or use road transportation for part of the journey.

The regional expansion forms part of the economic development agenda of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, under which the state-backed airline has expanded its domestic operations and is now extending its network beyond Nigeria.

The Enugu-Douala route therefore represents the airline’s first step into regional operations and gives the South-East a direct international air connection to Cameroon from Enugu.

The new service is expected to support movement between the two markets for business, trade, family visits and other forms of regional travel while strengthening Enugu’s position within the wider African aviation network.

Nigeria’s drive to expand its domestic airline industry is facing a major infrastructure challenge, with operators warning that the country’s airports may not have the capacity to accommodate the growing number of airlines and aircraft entering the market.

The concern was raised at the 30th annual conference of the League of Aviation and Airport Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos, where industry stakeholders examined the challenges confronting the sustainability and growth of the aviation sector.

Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines and spokesperson for the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, specifically questioned the pace at which Airline Operating Certificates (AOCs) are being issued without a corresponding expansion of airport infrastructure.

According to him, while increased competition is welcome, the government must ensure that airport facilities, particularly aircraft parking and ramp areas, are capable of supporting the additional operators.

“More AOCs are being issued, and perhaps five more will be issued by year’s end. More competition is fine, no problem. But where is the infrastructure to accommodate these additional aircraft?” Okonkwo asked.

He disclosed that obtaining his own AOC took between two and three years, whereas some operators were now receiving theirs within six months.

Okonkwo said the growing number of aircraft could worsen congestion at airports unless infrastructure development kept pace with the expansion of the airline industry.

He cited a recent incident involving a United Nigeria aircraft which, according to him, remained on the tarmac for about 30 minutes because passengers could not disembark due to congestion on the ramp.

The airline executive also questioned whether Nigeria’s existing airspace capacity could adequately support the anticipated growth in aircraft operations.

His concerns come amid increasing efforts to encourage more indigenous airlines and promote competition in the domestic aviation market.

Meanwhile, the operators also highlighted the financial pressures affecting airlines, with AON Vice Chairman and Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, disclosing that airlines contend with about 54 different aviation charges.

Onyema said the numerous taxes, levies and charges had become a significant burden on operators and were affecting their ability to remain profitable and competitive.

He called for a comprehensive review of the charges, stressing that a sustainable aviation industry requires a balance between government revenue expectations and the survival of airlines.

Another major operational challenge highlighted by Okonkwo was the persistent problem of bird strikes.

He disclosed that a United Nigeria Embraer E190 aircraft had remained grounded for 13 days following a bird strike, despite repairs and replacement of damaged components.

He said such incidents impose huge financial losses on airlines, particularly when aircraft are acquired with borrowed funds.

Okonkwo also called for stronger protection of airline workers during flight disruptions, recounting an incident in which passengers allegedly refused to disembark after a United Nigeria flight returned to Lagos because of adverse weather conditions at Kano.

He warned that the safety and security of aviation workers must be taken seriously whenever disruptions occur.

The concerns raised by the operators suggest that Nigeria’s aviation expansion requires more than the licensing of new airlines.

For the anticipated growth to translate into improved connectivity and stronger competition, stakeholders say airport infrastructure, airspace capacity and operational safety measures must expand alongside the number of carriers.

*Operators raise alarm over ramp congestion, bird strikes and rising costs

*AON says 54 charges are stifling airline competitiveness

Nigeria’s aviation industry may be heading for a major capacity crisis as the number of airline operators continues to grow without a corresponding expansion of airport infrastructure, industry stakeholders have warned.

The warning came at the 30th annual conference of the League of Aviation and Airport Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos, where airline operators raised concerns over the ability of existing airports to accommodate the growing number of carriers and aircraft entering the market.

Vice Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said Nigerian airlines currently contend with about 54 different taxes, levies and charges, which he described as a major obstacle to the profitability and competitiveness of the sector.

But beyond the financial burden, the operators raised concerns about whether Nigeria’s airport infrastructure is keeping pace with the expansion of the airline industry.

The AON spokesperson and Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, questioned the continued issuance of Airline Operating Certificates (AOCs) when available airport facilities are already under pressure.

Okonkwo disclosed that while it took him between two and three years to obtain an AOC, some new operators were now obtaining theirs in about six months.

He said increased competition was desirable but warned that new airlines would put additional pressure on already congested airport facilities.

“More AOCs are being issued, and perhaps five more will be issued by year’s end. More competition is fine, no problem. But where is the infrastructure to accommodate these additional aircraft?” he asked.

The United Nigeria Airlines chairman cited a recent experience in which one of his aircraft remained on the tarmac for about 30 minutes because passengers could not disembark due to ramp congestion.

His concern was that the situation could become more severe if more airlines acquire aircraft without corresponding improvements in airport infrastructure and airspace capacity.

“I wonder if we have enough airspace,” he added.

The infrastructure concerns are compounded by operational hazards, particularly bird strikes, which Okonkwo said were causing significant damage to airline operations.

He disclosed that one of his airline’s Embraer E190 aircraft had remained grounded for 13 days following a bird strike, despite repairs and replacement of damaged components.

“Today, I have an aircraft, E-190. This is the 13th day of AOG (aircraft on ground) due to bird strike. We bought new blades and fixed them,” he said.

Okonkwo said the financial impact was particularly painful for airlines that had borrowed money to acquire aircraft.

“Imagine having borrowed 30% of funds from the bank to acquire these beautiful aircraft, only to wake up and face a bird strike. It happens continuously within one month. It is very painful,” he said.

He expressed frustration over what he described as inadequate measures by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to effectively address the bird-strike menace.

The airline executive also raised another growing concern—the treatment of airline workers during flight disruptions.

He recounted an incident involving a United Nigeria flight that returned to Lagos after heavy rain affected operations at Kano Airport. According to him, some passengers refused to disembark from the aircraft after it returned to Lagos, resulting in a difficult situation for the airline and its workers.

Okonkwo warned that protecting aviation personnel must be given greater attention, particularly during disruptions when passengers can become aggressive.

“If we cannot protect airline workers, who are somebody’s wives, children, sisters, and brothers, then when there is any flight disruption, what happens? Staff disappear because nobody wants to be harmed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Onyema said the industry’s infrastructure and operational challenges were being worsened by the high number of charges imposed on airlines.

According to him, Nigerian airlines pay about 54 different charges, a burden he said undermines their ability to compete effectively with foreign carriers.

“One thing I want to mention is that there are many charges. If I were to list them, there are about 54 that airlines pay,” Onyema said.

He also called attention to an ECOWAS agreement reportedly providing for a 25 per cent reduction in taxes across West Africa, saying the provision had yet to be implemented.

Onyema expressed optimism that direct engagement between airline operators and President Bola Tinubu could produce significant reforms in the sector.

He recalled the removal of the four per cent Free-on-Board customs duty after he raised concerns about its impact on airlines, describing the development as an example of what could happen when government responds to industry concerns.

The operators also raised concerns about the impact of official pronouncements on investor confidence and the reputation of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Okonkwo urged government officials, particularly political appointees responsible for public communication, to acquire sufficient knowledge of aviation before making statements on the sector.

He argued that poorly informed statements could damage confidence in an industry already struggling with significant operational and financial pressures.

The concerns raised at the LAAC conference point to a deeper challenge confronting Nigerian aviation: the sector is seeking more airlines and greater competition, but its infrastructure, regulatory framework and operating environment may not yet be expanding at the same pace.

Unless the gap between airline growth and infrastructure capacity is urgently addressed, increased competition could produce congestion and operational bottlenecks rather than the improved connectivity and service quality expected from a growing aviation market.