Domestic carriers, led by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), have called on the Federal Government to exercise caution in implementing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), warning that the initiative could disadvantage local airlines if not carefully managed.
SAATM, also known as the African Open Skies, is an African Union (AU) initiative designed to boost intra-African air connectivity, lower fares, and stimulate economic growth by liberalizing air services across the continent.
At the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) National Aviation Conference 2025 in Lagos, themed “Elevating the Nigerian Aviation Industry through Investment, Partnership and Global Engagements,” AON spokesperson Professor Obiora Okonkwo highlighted the current vulnerabilities of Nigerian carriers. He cautioned that allocating lucrative routes to established foreign airlines could undermine local operators, who are still rebuilding capacity and competitiveness.
Okonkwo noted that dominant regional carriers, such as Ethiopian Airlines, already operate multiple entry points into Nigeria, carrying significant passenger traffic onward to other destinations. He warned, “If you have operators like Ethiopian Airlines that operate multiple entry points in and out of Nigeria, and 80 per cent of the passengers departing from here to Ethiopia continue onward to other destinations, how many passengers am I going to carry from here to Ethiopia in the reciprocity arena?”
He also cited historical challenges that constrained Nigerian airlines, including blacklisting by global lessors, which limited aircraft leasing options and forced operators to purchase planes outright or pay significantly higher lease costs. Recent government efforts have helped remove Nigeria from this blacklist, but Okonkwo emphasized that local airlines need two to three years to fully normalize operations before competing effectively under SAATM.
“Our operators need protection. Government must not give routes that will make us viable to someone else, because if the person mops up all the passengers, then we cannot even start. When that happens, it is capital flight,” he said.
The warnings underscore the balancing act Nigeria faces as it integrates into continental aviation markets: supporting local carriers while embracing the benefits of open skies for regional connectivity and economic growth.