By Itohan Abara-Laserian
United Nigeria Airline on Monday said it was set to hit the one million mark in terms of passengers so far conveyed in first three years of its operation.
The Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Mr Ositadinma Okonkwo, made the disclosure at a media interactive session on Monday, to commemorate the airline’s anniversary in Lagos.
He said that the total number of passengers serviced by the airline currently stood at about 950,000 passengers since inception.
The Executive Director said that the airline had operated everyday for three years and was expanding to the African region, starting with Ghana.
He said that the airline had employed some 500 direct staff and over 1,500 indirect ticketers among others.
Okonkwo said the three years were not without challenges, including flight disruptions, urging customers to be patient with the staff of the airline, who were doing their best.
He said that most of the challenges were inevitable and circumstances around operational challenges.
Okonkwo also decried the challenges posed by forex and how it was affecting operations and the cost of air fares.
He, however, said that the airline was increasing its fleet and route frequency.
Okonkwo thanked customers of the airline and said it would award 10 per cent discount to 300 of them to mark its third year anniversary.
“We are so customer-centric that we bend backwards to make sure that we meet our customer expectations, so, we can not celebrate without mentioning our customers.
“For their tremendous support all these years, three years specifically. It has been so rewarding, instructive and inspiring that our customers continue to identify with us irrespective of all the operational problems,” he said.
He appreciated the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, other agencies and airport handlers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the airline commenced operations on Feb. 12, 2021.(NAN) www.nannews.ng
Edited by Oluwole Sogunle
