Embattled United Nigeria Airlines eyes U.S flights via codeshare agreement

Embattled domestic carrier, the United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) is said to be eyeing intercontinental flight arrangements with the State of Texas, United States, despite not having any aircraft capable of operating such aviation deals.

This is also domestic airline’s sources suggest a codeshare agreement is the target, as another U.S carrier, Delta Air Lines also operates direct Lagos-Atlanta regular weekly flights, with the New York route recently added.

This much was disclosed when a delegation of the UNA Management led by its Chairman, Obiora Okonkwo paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Texas, Mr. Greg Abbott, recently in the United States.

The UNA delegation had met with the Texas Governor earlier this month to discuss flights to the U.S state, which is home to the largest Nigerian population in the United States.

According to reports, the airline is looking to Texas as part of its vision to expand and enhance connectivity locally and internationally.

Nigerian aviation officials have previously visited the city of Houston in Texas, last July to discuss direct flights and ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

The team from United Airlines Nigeria, led by Obiora Okonkwo, had what they described as a ‘fruitful’ meeting with Dallas Forth Worth International Airport (DFW) and separately met the Governor to discuss the flight options.

UNA does not currently have any aircraft capable of making the transatlantic shuttle, however, the civil aviation firm is said to be exploring the possibility of a codeshare agreement to be made with a US carrier such as American Airlines, which has a large hub at the DFW.

The route would be the third link between Nigeria and the United States.

United Airlines Nigeria (UNA) Management Team led by its Chairman, Obiora Okonkwo meeting with the Governor of Texas, Mr. Greg Abbott, recently in the United States

Currently, Delta Air Lines operates direct flights to Lagos Murtala Muhammed (LOS) from its primary hub at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) with an Airbus A330. Also, another U.S carrier, the United Airlines connects Lagos with Washington Dulles (IAD) using its Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

This would not be the first time Texas has had a direct route to West Africa, as the United Airlines previously operated a service to Lagos from Houston but ended it in 2016 due to difficulty repatriating funds.

UNA is presently grappling with an inquest by the Nigerian government which had, Tuesday, ordered investigation within 72 hours into how the airline diverted an Abuja-bound domestic flight to Asaba in Delta State without authorization, on the claims of bad weather.

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Technology, had, Tuesday, ordered the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to investigate the incident leading to the diversion of an Abuja-bound flight operated by UNA which was diverted to Asaba in Delta State, last Sunday.

The flight was reported diverted to Asaba without the knowledge of passengers and flight crew, with the airline issuing a statement claiming the decision was informed by bad weather.

The bemused passengers, however, alleged that the error may have been caused by a wrong flight plan handed to the pilots, instead of the ‘bad weather’ explanation adduced by the airline management.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Technology, Festus Keyamo, who disclosed the directive to the NSIB to investigate the incident, said the agency is to conclude its investigation ‘within 72 hours’ following the incident of flight diversion by United Nigeria Air.

Mr. Keyamo, while addressing aviation correspondents, insisted that bad weather was not the cause of the diversion.

“No such report was received from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet). Rather, it was a question of the wet lease plane, where the pilots and the crew were all foreigners not Nigerians, who were unfamiliar with the Nigerian terrain,” Keyamo said.

The minister explained that the (control) tower kept on asking the pilots to confirm repeatedly that they are headed for Abuja not Asaba but “the pilot replied, No, I am going to Asaba that’s the transcript we got by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.”

The Minister gave a ten-day ultimatum to the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau to investigate the incident and explain what happened.

“We have listened to the transcripts from the tower to the pilots. The transcript produced by Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA). It was clear that when the pilot was taking off from Lagos, he was headed to Asaba, not Abuja, where the flight ought to have headed,” Keyamo said.

Keyamo directed that henceforth all wet leases, involving foreign pilots and crew operating in Nigeria they must have a Nigeria pilot seated on the jump seat with a foreign pilot even if it’s for few hours or few days.

“I have also directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, that within the next 72 hours they should summon all pilots and Crew who are operating wet leases in Nigeria for further briefings because the lives of Nigerians were at stake they are flying Nigerians, and our primary duty is to protect Nigerians”.

The incident which occurred last Sunday on a CRJ-model aircraft operated by the UNA was described by the astonished passengers as disappointing, just as the airline has moved to clarify that the flight was diverted to Asaba due to bad weather.

However, some passengers aboard the plane insist the mistake was due to a wrong flight plan delivered to the pilot.

The flight which has since been re-diverted to Abuja as all passengers disembarked same day at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) safely.

A passenger who identified himself as Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, who leaked the incident via his X handle, Sunday, said passengers aboard the flight were not notified by the crew on plans to divert the aircraft due to bad weather or any other issue, as they found themselves in Asaba minutes after take-off in Lagos.

Tanko-Yakasai, who is a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Kano, also added that it was after they landed that the airline immediately realized the wrong flight plan as they re-boarded for Abuja.

However, in a swift response, the UNA has denied wrongly diverting the flight as it claimed the decision was informed by bad weather and not wrong flight plan.

In a brief statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications, UNA, Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu titled;” Temporary Diversion Of Flight To Asaba, the airline said it diverted the flight due to safety reasons owing to bad weather.

 “A United Nigeria Airlines flight, NUA 0504, operating from the MM2 in Lagos enroute Abuja on Sunday, November 26, 2023, was temporarily diverted to the Asaba International Airport due to poor destination weather.

“At all material time, the Pilot of the aircraft was aware of the temporary diversion and was properly briefed.

“However, a wrong announcement was made by the cabin crew upon landing safely in Asaba, creating confusion among the passengers,” the statement read.

The confusion was further heighted when the passengers claimed that the cabin crew made a wrong announcement on landing that the flight had landed in Abuja instead of Asaba.

While the problem was blamed on a lack communication between the cockpit crew and cabin crew, the passengers were left wondering over the confusion for long while still seated inside the plane.