InterGroup Chief Financial Officer, Mary Olowo-Sokeye, has said that leasing remains the most practical entry strategy for Nigeria’s startup carriers.

She stressed that the best financing for new airlines avoids crippling debt, allows operational flexibility, and preserves capital for growth.

Speaking in an interview in Lagos, Olowo-Sokeye explained that startup carriers often miscalculate the risk of committing to expensive repayment schedules before achieving operational stability.

“For new airlines or people trying to get into the airline space, definitely consider the leasing option,” she said.

“You never want to own it outright at the beginning. You just use it to make money, paying a leasing fee which is usually lower than the cost of ownership while the servicing remains with the owner.”

She compared aircraft ownership to buying a luxury car, where a $50 million purchase could tie an airline into years of high-interest repayments.


Leasing as the best financing for new airlines, she said, allows operators to focus on building revenue streams without crippling capital commitments, adding that lower upfront costs make leasing the best financing for new airlines

Olowo-Sokeye said such carriers must protect their liquidity by avoiding heavy initial capital outlays.

“If you don’t have a lot of cash, the lease-back option is better. You can use those funds for operations, staffing, and marketing instead of ownership costs,” she explained.

She further noted that leasing keeps more working capital available to handle fluctuations in passenger demand and seasonal changes.