NIGERIA – Aero contractors, Nigeria’s oldest domestic carrier, has concluded plan to begin flight operations on the Benin-Lagos route.

According to a press release from the airline, the maiden flight from Lagos to Benin City is scheduled to take off on 16th September, 2019.

The Head, Ground Operations, Aero Contractors, Peter Omata, said the expansion was based on growing passenger movement from the Benin Airport.

He said the inaugural flight would leave Lagos for Benin City at 2:10pm.

Capt. Ado Sanusi, the managing director of the airline stated that the airline would operate into Benin City four times a week; Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Sanusi stated that nation’s oldest carrier known for efficiency, its goodwill and safety record will use it’s Boeing 737-500 aircraft for the operations.

He further noted that for weekdays, the flight will depart Lagos to Benin City at 16:55 pm and out of Benin City to Lagos at 18:15pm, while on Sundays, it will depart Lagos to Benin City at 12:40 pm and out of Benin City to Lagos at 14:00pm.

“We are also resuming this operations to give people from the state opportunity to make Aero their preferred choice of the airlines operating into the city,” said Sanusi.

Aviation expert in Benin City, Mr Leonard Adagbon, said the number of passengers flying in and out of Benin City was growing at a rate never anticipated.

According to Adgbon, the increased air traffic to the city can be attributed to the reforms by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government in Edo State, which had opened the space for investment in agriculture, industries, technology innovation, education, healthcare and infrastructure, among others.

Mr Adgbon also revealed that the increased flights were boosting Benin’s economy especially the Hotel Industry which was benefitting from the “business people coming to the state every week now for one thing or the other.”

 The airline, which is repositioning its scheduled and fixed wing operations, is poised to offer the best flight service to travellers to the ancient kingdom.

Aero Contractors is one of the oldest aviation companies in West Africa having successfully operated in Nigeria for over 51 years.

The company that has over 15000 personnel, owns and operates 20 helicopters and 15 fixed wing aircrafts.

Aero Contractors is also the first in Nigeria and West African Aviation Company to operate a maintenance facility, which conducts C- Checks on both local and international airplanes.