Nigeria Airways
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Nigeria Airways was the former national airline of Nigeria, founded in 1958 and headquartered in Lagos. The airline was owned by the federal government of Nigeria. It is now defunct.
Virgin Nigeria Airways is now the flag carrier of Nigeria.
History
Prior to 1959 West African Airways Corporation operated services to London in association with BOAC using leased Boeing 377 Stratocruisers. WAAC was a joint venture between Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Ghana, which left WAAC in 1957. Nigeria Airways was formed as part of WAAC. It was established as an independent Nigerian corporation in 1968.
From 1962 this route was operated by De Havilland Comet 4Bs. Nigeria Airways also operated the Douglas DC-3 on internal routes during the 1960s.
A Vickers VC10 was used from 1969, replaced by Boeing 707s in 1971. Douglas DC-10-30s were introduced in 1976 and Airbus A310s in 1983. While the A310s were on order Boeing 747-200s were used.
Nigeria Airways operated using IATA code 5N, ICAO code NIS.
Safety concerns
In 2001 the United Kingdom refused to allow Nigeria Airways to operate from Lagos to London due to concerns about the safety of the Air Djibouti Boeing 747 being leased in to operate the service. The service had been halted since 1998. (See External links)
Allegations of corruption
Various allegations have been made that former Nigerian rulers looted the airline which accelerated its failure. (See External links).
Fleet
Historic Fleet
Nigeria Airways operated the following aircraft:- Airbus A310-200
- Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
- Boeing 707
- Boeing 737-200/737-400
- Boeing 747-100/747-200
- Boeing 767-200
- De Havilland Comet 4B
- Douglas DC-10
- Vickers VC10
External links
- [Nigeria seeks lost airways money (BBC)]
- [Britain Stops Nigeria Airways from Returning to Lagos-London Flight (People's Daily, China)]
- [Old timetable images]
- [Nigeria Airways DC-3]
- [Nigeria Airways (Presidency, Government of Nigeria)]
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