In a major step forward for Nigeria’s aviation sector, United Nigeria Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cronos Aviation to establish a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Nigeria. This collaboration aims to address a longstanding gap in the West and Central African regions, where limited options exist for in-region aircraft maintenance. The facility, to be equipped for servicing Boeing 737 Classics, B737NGs, B777s, Airbus, Embraer, and other models, will help regional airlines reduce the need to ferry aircraft abroad for essential maintenance, which currently drains substantial foreign exchange reserves.
The partnership also includes provisions for a code-share agreement, enhancing training opportunities for Nigerian professionals in aircraft maintenance and facilitating technology transfer. “Cronos Aviation’s established track record in MRO services, with facilities at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, positions them as the ideal partner to help Nigeria achieve self-sufficiency in aircraft maintenance,” said Professor Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines.
Professor Okonkwo highlighted the financial impact of this development, noting that the MRO facility will reduce capital flight by enabling airlines to conduct expensive C-checks locally. Currently, Nigerian airlines spend about half a million dollars per C-check overseas due to the lack of domestic capacity. The new facility will also ease the burden on airlines struggling with high numbers of Aircraft on Ground (AOG) due to foreign exchange shortages and maintenance backlogs abroad.
In addition to the MRO facility, United Nigeria Airlines is expanding its fleet. By mid-next year, the airline plans to add six new Embraer190 (E190) aircraft, boosting its operational capacity. Training for pilots, cabin crew, and engineers is already underway, with many personnel undergoing rigorous training abroad to meet both Nigerian and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards.
With the MRO facility set to bolster regional operations and a larger fleet on the horizon, this partnership signals a transformative period for Nigeria’s aviation sector, bringing the promise of self-reliance, economic growth, and enhanced regional connectivity.
IMAGE CAPTION: Obiora Okonkwo, ChairmanCEO United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), and Andeas Kaiafas, Chief Executive Officer, Marathon Airlines during the Signing of Memorandum of Understanding on the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul PPartnership, Interline and Codeshare Agreement between Cronos Aviation and UNA in Ikeja in Lagos recently
