The federal government granted preliminary approval on 28 March 2018 for a new regional carrier, provisionally named Niger Delta Air, to be based at Akwa Ibom's Uyo airport, with backing from the state government.

Filling a Regional Connectivity Gap

The proposed airline planned to operate a small fleet of turboprop aircraft on routes linking Uyo to Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, part of a state-backed effort to reduce the south-south region's reliance on long road journeys to reach major air hubs.

Next Steps Before Launch

Officials said the carrier would still need to complete NCAA certification, including proving-flight and safety audits, before any commercial launch date could be set.