Nigerian startup airline, Green Africa Airways, has ordered 50 A220s jets from Airbus. This has been described as the largest aircraft purchase by an African airline.
Recall that Nairametrics earlier reported that the deal was close to being finalised. Green Africa Airline hopes to begin commercial operations in Nigeria soon. It will compete with the likes of Medview and Air Peace which have dominated the Nigerian aviation market in the last few years.
The BBC quoted the company’s Founder, Babawande Afolabi, to have expressed excitement following the deal. He said:
“Together with Airbus, we are incredibly proud to announce the largest order ever for the A220 from the African continent.”
Green Africa Airways initially planned to acquire Boeing’s controversial 737 Max. The company announced the impending deal with Boeing in December 2018, months before a second deadly air mishap involving the Max model resulted in it being grounded.
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The deal with Boeing was expected to cost about $11.7 billion. It was also supposed to be the largest aircraft agreement from Africa.
It has long been Afolabi’s long-held dream to build a “world-class airline” that will serve the Nigerian market, helping to “unlock a new realm of positive possibilities for millions of customers.”
Green Africa Airways received its Air Transport License from the Nigerian government some years ago. The startup is anchored by a group of senior industry leaders led by Tom Horton, former Chairman and CEO of American Airlines; William Shaw, Founder and former CEO of VivaColombia, and Virasb Vahidi, former CCO of American Airlines. According to reports, the airline’s strategy is to first develop the Nigerian market and then ‘build a strong Pan African network.’
In the meantime, Boeing’s 737 Max airplanes continue to be grounded.
This is really exiting and a very good news for the Nigerian economy. I hope the government will make available enabling environment for such a giant economic stride.
The aircraft choice is excellent. But I would have advised 30 and another 20 from a different manufacturer. In aviation anything can happen. Look at the grounding of Max. It’s a lesson. Imagine if they had bought Max. It means the whole airline is grounded. In any case. This is what we need in Nigeria . Kudos to our green airline
A WELCOME AND LONG OVERDUE DEVELOPMENT INDEED!. GREEN AFRICA AIRWAYS MUST STRIVE TO CAPTURE NOT JUST THE NIGERIAN MARKET ALONE BUT, THE ENTIRE AFRICAN MARKET. WITHOUT ANY ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY OF ITS OWNERS,THE AIRLINE NEEDS TO GO PUBLIC TO ENHANCE ITS FINANCIAL BASE ,BEARING IN MIND THAT AVIATION IS SO MUCH HIGHLY CAPITAL INTENSIVE. IN ADDITION, THE AIRLINE MUST BE IN PATNERSHIP AND ALLIANCES TO REMAIN AND BE RELEVANT IN THE INDUSTRY.
This is a laudable development in Aviation industry in recent time. This will eventually close the gap in inadequate air transportation. I am one of those people that participated in development of aerodrome infrastructure and facilities across the country in the last two decades, sure we are on ground to render any assistance that you may deem necessary. The potential for the growing industry shall be unlocked with the massive deployment of this number of aircrafts by the operator of GREEN AFRICA AIRWAYS. Kudos to the arrival of this outfit!!!