► NIGERIA: Ethiopian Airlines now eyes a return to Kano as more carriers show interest.

With recent inauguration of 4x weekly flights from Addis Ababa to the south-eastern Nigerian city of Enugu, Ethiopian Airlines has now stated it plans to resume flights to Kano, suspended over ten years ago.

Ethiopian 737 in Enugu
(Alkasim Abdulkadir)

Speaking at Bole International Airport prior to the maiden Enugu flight on Saturday, Ethiopian CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said the airline would resume operations to Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) as Kano is one of Nigeria’s most populous states.

 “After the successful take-off of operations to Enugu, our next Nigerian route is Kano. We are planning seriously to resume the route soon,“ he said.

Following the inauguration of the newly renovated and expanded international terminal at  MAKIA in March, business has been slowly growing both in terms of traffic with Turkish Airlines (TK) set to start  4x weekly flights from Istanbul to Ndjamena, Chad via Kano with effect from December 12.

The launch of new flights into the country's previously under-utilized airports has brought with it spinoff business with the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) now set to begin operations at Enugu, Asaba and Sokoto Airports. Equipment and logistics are said to have been installed in Enugu in preparation for Ethiopian Airlines' use.

Air Zimbabwe (UM), Air Uganda (U7) and Canary Islands-based Binter Canarias (NT) have all reportedly expressed interest in operating flights into Nigeria as well.