The African Airlines Association has admitted Enugu Air as its newest member, making the Nigerian carrier the 50th airline to join the Nairobi-headquartered trade body and extending AFRAA's membership base in one of the continent's fastest-growing domestic aviation markets.
AFRAA said the milestone brings its membership to airlines collectively representing more than 85 percent of total international traffic carried by African carriers. Enugu Air, headquartered in Enugu and operating from Akanu Ibiam International Airport, began commercial operations on 7 July 2025 with a fleet of Embraer E170, E190, and E195 aircraft, and currently serves six domestic destinations including Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Benin City.
AFRAA Backs IOSA Push
AFRAA Secretary General Abdérahmane Berthé welcomed the carrier into what he called the AFRAA fraternity, describing Enugu Air as the kind of homegrown, state-backed investment vital to building resilient air connectivity across the continent, and said the association looked forward to supporting the airline through the IOSA safety certification process. Enugu Air's leadership said the membership underscored the carrier's commitment to safe and affordable air travel while it works toward that certification and pursues its own growth plans.
Next Steps for a Young Carrier
Enugu Air's admission to AFRAA comes as the carrier continues to expand within Nigeria and lay groundwork for regional and international routes across Africa, Europe, and beyond in later phases. The airline has also drawn scrutiny this year following a runway excursion at Benin Airport in July, which the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau is separately investigating. Nigeria remains central to AFRAA's vision of an integrated continental aviation market given its position as Africa's most populous nation and one of its fastest-growing economies.
