United Nigeria Airlines makes inaugural landing in Accra

By Kingsley Webora TANKEH

United Nigeria Airlines has made its inaugural trip from Lagos to Accra, marking its first flight out of Nigeria as the airline aims to expand its footprint in the region.

The plane that carried the first passengers is named after the late first President of the fourth republic, Lt. Gen. Rawlings, in a tribute to the Pan-African vision he espoused.

Speaking at the inauguration of the dual city flights at the Kotoka International Airport, the Public Relations Officer, Chibuike Oloka, emphasised that uniting people, communities and tribes is central to their mission, aiming to unite the African continent.

“We are trying to see how we can unite communities, unite people, unite places,” he said.

He maintained that this informed the choice of Accra as entry to the sub-region, considering the brotherhood the two nations cherish and enjoy.

This marks a significant milestone for the four year-old airline. Mr. Oloka explained that Rawlings was chosen as a namesake because his legacy is the very embodiment of the airline’s “flying to unite” mantra.

“The late former President Jerry John Rawlings has been one person who drives the African vision,” he stated. “He’s a Pan-Africanist… who has always driven African unity. There is no other person most suitable or most befitting to have named this aircraft after.”

He emphasised that the gesture was about more than just business. “We have to live with his legacy and not let it die,” he added.

The airline was treated with a warm reception from Fritz Baffour, former Minister of Information under Rawlings’ Government, who was delegated by the  family.

“The reception was awesome. We felt we are Ghanaians already,” Mr. Oloka shared. “When coming in here, we thought it was just for business… But coming in here, we know we have a family here. And for us, it is no longer about business; it is now about that mission of uniting brothers, uniting tribes, cultures and communities.”

The Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, officially welcomed United Nigeria Airlines as the 25^th international carrier to operate at Kotoka International Airport.

“It is with immense pride and excitement that we gather here to mark another significant milestone in Ghana’s aviation industry. The commencement of operations is a clear demonstration of the growing confidence in Ghana’s aviation industry and reinforces our ongoing efforts to position Ghana as the preferred aviation hub in West Africa,” she said.

United Nigeria Airlines will operate a daily flight between Abuja and Accra, a route with limited competition that serves a high demand for direct capital-to-capital travel. Additionally, the airline will fly four times weekly between Lagos and Accra.

“We are trying to see how we can connect capital to capital,” Mr. Oloka explained, highlighting the strategic importance of the Abuja-Accra link.

The airline aims to build a reputation for punctuality and excellent customer service, with future plans to include a night-stopping aircraft in Accra to facilitate morning departures.

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