. From left: Head of Corporate Communication, United Nigeria Airlines  (UNA), Mr. Achilleus Chud-Uchegbu; Sales Manager,(UNA, Mrs. Nnonyelum Ibemere; Digital Marketing Manager, UNA, Mrs. Ebele Makaogwu; Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Raphael Uchegbu; Chief Operating Officer, UNA, Mazi Osita Okonkwo; Chairman, League of Airport Aviation Correspondent, Mr. Segun Koiki;  General Manager, ground Operation, UNA, Mr. Hamzat Bukar, Station Manager, Lagos, Mrs. Amauche Orakwe, during a Press Conference as part of activites to mark the 3rd anniversary of the Airline.

United Nigeria Airlines has airlifted 950,000 passengers since it commenced operation three years ago. It hopes to hit one million within the next few months.

The Chief Operating Officer of the Airline,Mr.Osita Okonkwo made this known while speaking with aviation journalists in Lagos.

He said that the Airline started operations  under a stringent  circumstanced.”We faced uncertainty  because we were just coming out of COVID-19.We have not disrupted our operation since we started.”

“Within the same period, the Airline has attained the International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit.Aviation contributes  to Gross Domestic Product of the country.We need to  use aviation to promote tourism,investment in aircraft.”

He informed the gathering  that Nigerian operator are having problem with leasing aircraft because of sin committed by some domestic operators.

Osita expressed gratitude to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development for stepping into the matter with a view for the leasing companies  to have a change  of heart towards Nigerian airlines.

He further said that everybody is increasing  cost of operations except United Nigeria Airline adding that airlines need cheaper loan to ease the escalating costs.

He told the media that the Airline is not against open skies agreement but frowns at the multiple entries granted to some foreign carriers.

In his view,  such privilege is detrimental to the domestic airlines that employ thousands of Nigerians.

The Chief Operating Officer disclosed that United Nigeria Airlines has employed  five hundred Nigerians  to all the department of the company.

Eighty percent of them,according to him have never been engaged anywhere before.

“UNA   provided them their first job,never had previous working experience.”

According to him, ,it is the policy of the Airline to employ fresh hands and train them according to the culture of the UNA.

.”We do not poach, we train our pilots,flight despatchers,engineers as our contribution to the sector.Our Chairman,Professor Obiora Okonkwo believes in human capital  who will grow with the Airline.”