Ethiopian Airlines CEO confirms end of Nigeria Air partnership
Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, has announced that plans to establish a national carrier in collaboration with the Nigerian government and institutional investors have concluded.
The #Nigeria Air project, unveiled in May 2023 by former aviation minister Hadi Sirika, faced opposition from domestic airlines and legal challenges. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) expressed concerns about the ownership structure, particularly after Ethiopian Airlines was named the preferred bidder.
In August 2023, Nigeria’s aviation minister Festus Keyamo suspended the national carrier project. Subsequently, in August 2024, a federal high court in Lagos nullified the sale of a 49 percent equity stake in the proposed Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines.
Mesfin explained that Ethiopian Airlines no longer intends to partner with Nigerian airlines due to objections from local operators. The company is now focusing on expanding its operations in other African countries where it has existing partnerships.
