United Nigeria Airlines says deploying the right aircraft size to match passenger demand will be critical to the success of its expansion plans across West Africa and beyond.
As the carrier pursues an ambitious growth strategy that includes new regional and long-haul international routes, the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Adedayo Olawuyi explained that aircraft deployment has affected several airlines in the regional market
Olawuyi disclosed this during an interactive session with aviation journalists stating that airlines have struggled in the regional market because they deployed aircraft that were too large for passenger demand.
Expansion Plans Hinge on Right-Sized Aircraft Strategy
According to him, sustainable growth requires operators to match aircraft capacity with actual market needs rather than simply adding larger aircraft.
“One of the things we are trying to do is to right-size the markets. Instead of deploying the big aircraft and trying to fly, right-size the markets and ensure you’re matching the capacity to demand in that market,” Olawuyi said.
He noted that many West African routes still record relatively low passenger numbers. Therefore, airlines operating larger narrow-body aircraft often face challenges in achieving profitable operations.
“The challenges you’ve seen with carriers is when we come and bring in a 737 and you want to put a 737-800 with 167 seats on a route that has less than 40 passengers per day each way, it becomes unsustainable,” he explained.
The emphasis on fleet optimisation comes as United Nigeria advances ambitious expansion plans designed to strengthen its position in regional and international markets.
Planned Regional Routes Revealed
Currently, the airline operates domestic services to 15 destinations across Nigeria. It also maintains daily regional services between Nigeria and Accra, Ghana.
Olawuyi revealed that the carrier intends to deepen its footprint within West Africa before pursuing wider international expansion.
According to him, planned destinations include Abidjan, Banjul, Dakar and Conakry. The airline is also evaluating opportunities in Douala and Libreville, while Johannesburg remains part of its long-term African network strategy.
“Our plan is to grow on the region and also internationally,” he said.
The expansion plans are expected to be supported by additional aircraft acquisitions currently underway. United Nigeria recently added new aircraft to its fleet and expects further deliveries in the coming months.
However, Olawuyi stressed that route development would be guided by careful commercial analysis rather than aggressive capacity deployment.
He argued that many underserved regional markets can become viable when airlines introduce appropriately sized aircraft and direct services.
“You will look at market data today and say there is no traffic between Nigeria and Ivory Coast, for example. You start a flight tomorrow and you can double those numbers within 12 months,” he said.
According to him, direct connectivity can stimulate travel demand, reduce journey times and create new economic opportunities across the sub-region.
Meanwhile, the airline’s expansion plans extend well beyond Africa.
Olawuyi disclosed that United Nigeria is targeting long-haul operations to the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Dubai and Saudi Arabia within the next six to 24 months.
“We are looking at the UK. We are looking at the US. We are looking at Canada. We are talking about Dubai and also Saudi Arabia,” he said.
He explained that the timeline remains subject to aircraft deliveries, regulatory approvals and the completion of foreign operator certification processes in the targeted countries.
In addition, the airline is exploring partnerships that could accelerate market entry.
According to Olawuyi, United Nigeria has already commenced discussions on interline and codeshare arrangements with local and international carriers.
He noted that partnerships would help the airline access markets where direct operations may not yet be commercially feasible.
“Even on routes like Canada and the US, we might decide to start with a codeshare before we start with our own actual service,” he said.
The airline also believes stronger Nigerian carriers are needed to challenge the dominance of foreign airlines across Africa’s international aviation market.
Olawuyi argued that many foreign carriers currently benefit from gaps in regional connectivity and the limited presence of African airlines on key international routes.
“The only way for us to stop that dominance is to start to take the battle to their markets,” he stated.
He observed that travellers moving between West African countries often endure multiple stopovers through regional hubs despite the short distances involved.
For United Nigeria, therefore, the success of its expansion plans will depend on creating direct connections, stimulating demand and deploying the right aircraft for each market.
As the carrier prepares for its next growth phase, management believes disciplined fleet deployment will remain the foundation for sustainable regional and international expansion.
