United Nigeria Airlines gets grand reception in Benin as carrier flags off inaugural flight

It was excitement unlimited on Tuesday in the ancient city of Benin as the Edo State Government rolled out the red carpet to receive United Nigeria Airlines as its Airbus 320 – 200 landed at Benin Airport during the flag off of the inaugural flight.

As the aircraft landed at the airport runway after taking off from Abuja, it received a water canon welcome – an aviation industry ritual where the aircraft is ushered in with showers of water provided by the fire safety and aerodrome safety unit of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Leaving other schedules, the State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki was on the ground to receive the management and crew of United Nigeria Airlines.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Professor Obiora Okonkwo called on State Governments to utilize air transportation as a catalyst to drive economic growth in their domains.

Okonkwo said the partnership between State Governments and local carriers will not only open their corridors for investment opportunities but facilitate the movement of people whose economic and commercial activities will contribute to the revenue accruing to the states. Speaking yesterday at Benin Airport, when the airline flagged off an inaugural flight connecting the ancient city with Abuja and Lagos, Okonkwo lauded the State for the reception accorded the carrier.

The airline has also commenced flights into Kano and Sokoto as part of its strategy to unite the country through air transport connectivity.

He said the reception accorded United Nigeria Airlines by Governor Godwin Obaseki, is sufficient evidence that partnership between players in the air transport value chain will go a long way to drive the economic development agenda of the administration.

He commended Obaseki for working on the talk about ensuring connectivity into Edo through air transport.
He explained that aviation is a major catalyst to any economic growth and hoped that other state governments would key into this and develop their states.

He said: “We are glad to be here. It is not about whether we are eight or seven. We have to thank the governor who took the initiative to invite us here. Discussion started in Lagos in 2022 and our team visited Edo State and today, we fulfilled the first promise, which was to start flying here.

“I can tell you that we were encouraged by his own commitment and persistence. Many people have been talking about attracting investments only by rhetoric, but he matched his words with action. Not many people understand the importance of air travel to the economic development of any state. It is a catalyst.

“You can imagine a time you had only one airline coming in, and the number of passengers coming in then. All these things are what add to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a state. So, we think that until the time other governors understand the importance of aviation, there is no other magic to grow the economy of a state. So, we thank you, Your Excellency.”

He also appealed to the government to make Benin Airport a 24-hour aerodrome for increased activities.
Okonkwo maintained that competition would lead to improved passenger services and assured the airline was ready to compete.

He also disclosed the plans to commence direct flights from Nigeria and Italy, thereby becoming the first carrier to fly the route.

According to him, the airline was at the final stage of the agreement.
On his part, the Edo State Governor called on the Federal Government to upgrade air navigation equipment at Benin Airport to enable eight carriers operating from the aerodrome carry out 24 – hour flight operations.

With extended hours of operations at the aerodrome, Obaseki said the facility would be optimum utilization.

Obaseki appealed to the Federal Government through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take as a priority the installation of night facilities like the Instrument Landing System (ILS), which would make the airport operate for 24 hours.

Obaseki stated further that the upgrading of the facilities would further increase the passenger surge into the airport and the state, adding that this would also boost the economic activities of Edo State.
He, however, assured that plans had reached the advanced stage for the installation of the equipment, assuring that some of these facilities would be installed before the end of the year.

Obaseki also lauded United Nigeria Airlines for joining seven other carriers to operate direct flights into the airport, maintaining that this would further make the airfares more competitive with arrays of choices for the travelling public.

He recalled that about seven years ago when he came on board, the airport had only one airline operating it, but the effort of the State Government to collaborate with private investors and the Federal Government had further increased the number of airlines to its present eight.

He said: “Let me remind all of us here that when I came into office in 2016, late 2016 there was only one commercial airline flying into Benin. Today, we have the eighth airline coming into Benin and I heard that there is another one that we expect to start operation soon.

“So, in seven years, we have been able to attract seven new airlines into the marketplace and that has been made possible because of the openness and collaboration with the aviation authorities.
“I recall my meeting with the former Minister of Aviation (Sen. Hadi Sirika) and the conversation at that time was that we were ready to collaborate with the Federal Government to increase the traffic flow into Benin City, Edo State.”

Besides, Obaseki further assured of the provision of topnotch security arrangements during the yuletide season for all the visitors into the state, boasting that the state was the most secure in the entire South South region.