There are indications that Nigeria’s oldest airline, Aero Contractors, has transmuted to a national carrier and has changed its name to Nigerian Eagle and would unveil it on Sunday as national carrier by President Goodluck Jonathan on his return from the UK.
One of its aircraft, a Boeing 737-500 classic, painted with new livery and the new name, landed in Lagos at about 8:45 pm on Tuesday night and was secretly parked in a private fixed based operation (FBO) facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Informed sources revealed on Wednesday, “There will not be Aero Contractors anymore. It is now Nigerian Eagle and it will be launched on Sunday by Mr. President. You will not see Aero anymore after the launch of this airline”.
Industry observers say that government might have decided to establish more than one national carrier or is using the Nigerian Eagle as a decoy or it has decided to change the name, Nigeria One.
About three years ago the defunct Air Nigeria earlier changed its name to Nigerian Eagle when it was under the management of Capt Dapo Olumide before it was taken over by Jimoh Ibrahim under whom the airline went under.
But Ministry sources denied that the Nigerian Eagle would become the national carrier, saying that the Nigerian number one airline was yet to berth, adding that the Nigerian Eagle aircraft would be used as publicity plane for Super Eagles for the coming World Cup that would be hosted in Brazil next year.
“If it is going to be the national carrier we would have heard about it in the Ministry. I doubt that because we just held a crucial meeting on the planned national carrier. This one is a publicity plane for the Super Eagle that just qualified for the world cup,” the source said.
Recently the federal government acquired 60 per cent interest in Aero through Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), while the Ibru family has 40 per cent stakes.
As a national carrier, the Nigerian Eagle is expected to enjoy preferential rights or privileges accorded by the federal government for international operations.
It would hold some lucrative routes in monopoly, negotiate commercial agreements, pools and bilaterals with foreign airlines, articulate manpower training for the sector and serve as diplomatic tool for Nigeria.
Nigerian Eagle would easily codeshare with other international airlines as this would improve Nigeria’s ability to take advantage of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) it signs with other countries.
A national carrier would up the competition in scheduled air services, as the new airline would be the toast of many passengers because of its symbolic value as the national airline of Nigeria. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Will Corruption allow national carrier to stay? I wonder why anything owned by Nigeria as a nation does not stay long.
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