October 17, (THEWILL) – Malaika Air, the Pan-African airline based in Accra, Ghana, has announced plans to begin operations in Nigeria by November. The airline’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder, Prince Richard Nwaobi, revealed this while speaking to journalists in Lagos, highlighting the company’s strategic approach to tapping into Nigeria’s vast travel market.
“We are excited to expand our operations into Nigeria, starting with routes to Lagos and Abuja,” Nwaobi said. He further mentioned ongoing efforts to establish a presence in Nigeria’s eastern region, with potential routes to airports in Asaba or Enugu. The airline will initially coordinate flights from Accra, with plans to offer two daily flights to Lagos and one to Abuja.
Despite the economic challenges, Nwaobi believes Nigeria remains a key market. “Nigerians love to travel, and there is still significant disposable income, especially for trade and tourism. This makes the Nigerian market particularly attractive,” he explained.
Malaika Air has also been selected as the official carrier for the upcoming Ipada Carnival and Osun Festival, taking place in December. The airline is collaborating with the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, as well as Ekiti and Ondo States, to support the festival, which aims to attract over a million visitors within three months.
While the airline plans to expand its operations in Nigeria, Nwaobi emphasised the importance of partnerships with local carriers like Ibom Air, stating, “We don’t want to come in with an imperial mindset. We want to collaborate with domestic airlines to build a hub and encourage regional connectivity.”
Malaika Air’s fleet will initially consist of Q400 NG aircraft for domestic and near-regional routes, along with Airbus A330s for international operations. The airline plans to grow its fleet to include four A330s and six Q400 NG aircraft in the near future.
When asked why Malaika Air, despite being a Nigerian-owned airline, chose to operate from Ghana, Nwaobi highlighted the company’s Pan-African vision. He emphasised the need to harness collective strengths across the continent.
“We need to harness our collective strengths. While Nigeria is a crucial market, we must also recognise the broader African, Caribbean, and Latin American connections that will drive our success,” Nwaobi stated. He added that Malaika Air’s approach is not confined to national borders, but aims to foster regional collaboration and engage the African diaspora for broader economic and tourism development.
The airline’s operations in Nigeria are expected to strengthen tourism and trade ties within Africa, with a particular focus on serving the African diaspora and fostering economic growth across the region.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
