Yuletide: United Nigeria Airlines to connect Kano, Southeast

The chairman of United Nigeria Airline (UNA), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has assured that flights from Kano to the South East states will commence before the Christmas season to afford travelers faster ease of movement.

He gave this assurance on Wednesday in response to the request of the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, who urged him to open up routes between Kano and the South East when he led the management team of the airline to pay a courtesy visit to the palace.

The Emir said he is confident that the addition of Kano to UNA’s destinations will further help the development of the economy of the state.

He commended Prof. Obiora for keeping to his promise that the airline would commence Kano operations before the end of the year, saying that it shows he has integrity.

“When Prof. Obiora came here some months ago, he promised me that he will ensure that United Nigeria begins its Kano operations and today, he has fulfilled that promise. This is how you know someone who has integrity. When you make a promise, you keep it and I am very happy this promise has come to fruition. The tradition of being a commercial center is well known and I hope that with the addition of Kano to the routes, it will be a catalyst for more development. You are assured of my continued support and my hope is that there would be flights to link Kano to the South East states where we have a huge population of Igbos. Given the long standing relationship between Kano and the South East, if a route is open between Kano and the South East, it would further boost economic development in the region and in Kano as well,” he said.

Responding to the Emir’s request, Prof. Obiora expressed his gratitude for the support the palace has given the airline since its inception and promised that there would be flights from Kano to the South East to enable ease of movement for the festive season. The airline currently operates to Anambra, Enugu and Owerri.

The Emir then commended the Azman Group President who is also the President of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Abdulmunaf Sarina, who he said helped in facilitating the visit and has shown solidarity to other airlines.

“Some months ago, the Azman chairman came here with the chairman of Air Peace and Prof. Okonkwo and he has been a source of support to them. I am happy that there is no rivalry between them, rather what we see is collaboration and healthy competition which is great for the aviation industry,” the Emir said.

Meanwhile, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has described the inaugural flight of United Nigeria Airline (UNA) into the City of the Caliphate as historic.

The traditional ruler and the governor joined UNA’s inaugural flight to Sokoto from Abuja on onboard its Airbus A320-200 aircraft after which he received the airline’s team led by its chairman, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, at his palace.