United Nigeria Airlines

United Nigeria Airlines Limited, trading as United Nigeria Airlines (IATA: U5, ICAO: UNA), is a private airline in Nigeria. The new start-up received its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) on 1 February 2021.^[1] Headquartered in the city of Enugu, with an office in Abuja,^[2] and with its operations base at Enugu International Airport, United Nigeria Airlines started with four aircraft to operate scheduled flights between nine Nigerian cities: Abuja, Onitsha, Asaba, Yenagoa, Warri, Enugu, Owerri, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.^[1][3]

United Nigeria Airlines

IATA ICAO Call sign U5 UNA UNITED NIGERIA
Founded	2020
Operating bases	Enugu International Airport
Focus cities	Abuja, Anambra, Asaba, Enugu, Lagos, Osubi, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa
Fleet size	5
Destinations	9
Parent company	United Nigeria Airlines Limited
Headquarters	Enugu
Key people	Prof. Obiorah Okonkwo, Executive Chairman
Website	flyunitednigeria.com

United Nigeria Airlines ERJ-145, registration 5N-BWZ

Overview

United Nigeria Airlines was established in 2020. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Nigeria Airlines Limited, a Nigerian company affiliated with Obiorah Okonkwo, a Russian-trained political scientist, businessman and entrepreneur.^[4][5]

The airline took delivery of four 50-seater Embraer ERJ-145LR aircraft during the second half of 2020.^[5] After rigorous examination by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which included test flights, NCAA granted the airline an AOC on 1 February 2021. The initial AOC was valid until 31 January 2023.^[1]

On 12 February 2021, United Nigeria Airlines made its inaugural flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State, to Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu State. The flight had a 100 percent passenger load factor.^[1][6][7]

Destinations

As of April 2021, United Nigeria Airlines maintained regular scheduled services to the following destinations:^[1]

Country	City	Airport	Notes	Refs
Nigeria	Abuja	Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport		[1]
	Asaba	Asaba International Airport		[1]
	Enugu	Akanu Ibiam International Airport	Hub	[1]
	Owerri	Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport		[1]
	Yenagoa	Bayelsa International Airport		[1]
	Umuleri	Anambra International Cargo Airport		[1]
	Lagos	Murtala Muhammed International Airport		[1]
	Katsina	Katsina Airport		[1]
	Osubi	Warri Airport
	Port Harcourt	Port Harcourt International Airport		[8]

Fleet

As of August 2025^[update], United Nigeria Airlines operates the following aircraft:^[9][3]

United Nigeria Airlines fleet

Aircraft	In fleet	Order	Passengers	Notes
Boeing 737-500	1
Embraer ERJ-145LR	4		50
Total	5

Incidents and accidents

• On 17 November 2021, a United Nigeria Embraer 145 with 43 passengers and four crew, flying from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to Murtala Muhammad International Airport, reported hearing two loud explosions followed by an engine flameout after departure. The crew declared an emergency and returned safely to Abuja on a single engine. The preliminary investigation by the Accident Investigation Bureau (Nigeria) revealed that the flight data recorder had been disabled and did not record the incident on the flight.^[10]

• On 8 September 2023, one of their aircraft overshot the runway while attempting to land by 20 meters at Lagos airport after returning from Owerri. There were no casualties reported in the incident.^[11]

• On 26 November 2023, Flight UN504 from Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) to Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (ABV) landed in Asaba International Airport (ABB). The airline indicated this diversion was due to weather, but authorities disagreed with the airline's claims of bad weather in Abuja at the time of the incident. An investigation regarding the incident is currently ongoing.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Airlines of Africa
• List of airlines of Nigeria