United Nigeria Airlines To Begin Cargo Operations At Ekiti Airport In January 2027
United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has announced plans to commence commercial cargo operations at Ekiti Airport in January 2027, with daily passenger flights expected to follow once ongoing infrastructure upgrades are completed.
The airline’s Chairman, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, disclosed this on Monday during the commissioning of Reeve Energy Limited’s aviation fuel tank farm facility at the airport.
Okonkwo said the airline was prepared to transport agricultural produce and other goods from Ekiti State to destinations across Nigeria and, eventually, international markets, including London, once the state government was ready to commence commercial cargo exports.
He assured the state government that United Nigeria Airlines would be the first airline to lift commercial cargo from the airport when operations begin.
“By January next year, we will activate a cargo section of our flights so that we can work out a deal. As soon as you are ready to start exporting cargo from here, whether to other parts of Nigeria or beyond, we will be ready,” he said.
The airline chairman also disclosed plans to introduce daily passenger flights to Ekiti, noting that the expansion would depend on improvements to the airport’s infrastructure.
He described the commissioning of the aviation fuel tank farm as a significant development that would support the airline’s operations and facilitate future expansion.
According to him, United Nigeria Airlines is the country’s second-largest consumer of aviation fuel after Air Peace, making a reliable supply of the product at the airport essential to its operations.
Explaining the airline’s partnership with the Ekiti State Government, Okonkwo said the company neither applied for the arrangement nor lobbied for it, adding that the government selected the airline after evaluating the operational capacity and fleet of domestic carriers.
He further stated that the airline had demonstrated its commitment to the partnership by maintaining services during periods of low passenger demand, sometimes operating flights with 40 passengers instead of 50.
Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to completing ongoing airport infrastructure projects and creating an enabling environment for private-sector investment.
Oyebanji said the government was working towards completing the airport upgrade by the end of 2026, including improvements to its Instrument Landing System (ILS) and the installation of aerodrome ground lighting infrastructure.
He explained that the ground lighting project, which is estimated to cost more than ₦10 billion, would enable the airport to support round-the-clock operations upon completion.
“By the time we finish what we are doing with the airport by the end of the year, by God’s grace, we should be able to complete the upgrade of the ILS that has been certified,” the governor said.
He added that the installation of the ground lighting system would allow aircraft to land at the airport at any time, significantly improving its operational capacity.
The governor also disclosed that the state government was working to secure an Independent Power Producer (IPP) for the airport to guarantee a reliable electricity supply and reduce dependence on external power sources.
Oyebanji commended Reeve Energy Limited for investing in the state and assured prospective investors of the government’s continued support.
The planned cargo operations and proposed daily passenger services are expected to strengthen Ekiti’s air transport connectivity, improve access to domestic and international markets, and create new opportunities for agricultural trade and economic development.
