United Nigeria Airlines Targets January 2027 for Ekiti Cargo Flights

United Nigeria Airlines plans to start cargo flights from Ekiti Airport in January 2027, with daily passenger flights also planned but no launch date announced. The airline’s Executive Chairman, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, disclosed the plan at the commissioning of Reeve Energy Limited’s aviation fuel tank farm at the airport.

Okonkwo said the cargo service would allow businesses to move goods from Ekiti to other Nigerian destinations and possibly overseas. He named London as a possible international destination. He said the service would depend on the state’s readiness and arrangements with the airline.

Cargo timetable and conditions

“If you have cargo by January, we will be the first to lift your commercial cargo,” Okonkwo said. Details of cargo schedules, pricing, capacity and confirmed destinations were not provided.

Okonkwo said United Nigeria Airlines neither applied nor lobbied for the partnership and paid no bribe to secure it. He said the state government conducted its own assessment, compared available airlines and approached the airline based on its fleet and operational capabilities.

He said the airline had shown commitment by accepting lower passenger numbers during weak demand, sometimes carrying 40 passengers instead of 50. Okonkwo described the decision as a sacrifice reflecting confidence in the partnership and the government’s commitment to developing the airport. He also described United Nigeria Airlines as Nigeria’s second-largest consumer of aviation fuel after Air Peace, saying its growing operations could support demand at the new fuel facility.

Ekiti airport upgrades

Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who presided over the event, pledged continued government support for the airport and private investors. He said the state aims to complete ongoing airport upgrades before the end of 2026, including work on the Instrument Landing System and an aerodrome ground lighting project costing more than ₦10 billion.

Oyebanji said completing the upgrades would allow the airport to support round-the-clock operations, giving airlines greater flexibility to land beyond daylight hours. He said the Instrument Landing System upgrade had received certification, while work on the ground lighting infrastructure was ongoing.

The governor also disclosed plans to secure an independent power producer for the airport, with the aim of making the facility self-sufficient in electricity supply. He commended Reeve Energy for investing in Ekiti and assured other investors of government support.

Operational context

United Nigeria Airlines and Air Peace both halted domestic flight operations on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, after aviation unions grounded activities at airports in Lagos and Abuja through coordinated industrial action. The disruption began as early as 5 am in Lagos, where union members restricted entry to terminals at Murtala Muhammed Airport. Entrances to Air Peace terminals in both cities were barricaded, preventing scheduled departures and leaving passengers stranded.

For Ekiti businesses, the cargo plan could widen market access for farmers and traders if it starts on schedule. The absence of pricing, capacity and confirmed destinations, plus the open passenger launch date, means the immediate impact remains uncertain.