“Kano to Lagos”: Rano Air Begins Operation, Sets to Challenge Air Peace, Azman, Others With N4bn Aircraft
- Nigerian-owned airline Rano Air has finally commenced operations with its inaugural flight on Sunday, May 7
- The flight, which left Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, landed in Lagos on Sunday afternoon
- Rano Air will start with four Embraer E145 aircraft, worth N1 billion each, with a seating capacity of 50
Rano Air, the latest baby in the Nigerian aviation industry, has finally commenced operations.
The airline made its inaugural landing on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Ikeja, Lagos.
The first flight conveyed 35 passengers from Kano State and disembarked them at the MMA2, Leadership reports.
Source: Facebook
Legit.ng had earlier reported that in preparation to commence operations, Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano secured four EMB-145LRs aircraft, a 50-seater commercial aircraft which cost an average of $2,395,000(N1.09 billion) each.
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Rano Air says it will provide flight services from Lagos to Kano, Maiduguri, Abuja and Sokoto.
Additionally, the airline will pioneer in offering a direct connecting flight from Maiduguri to Kano.
Scenes after the first flight landed in Lagos
Rano Air's first flight touched down on the runway at precisely 2:50 pm; as a tradition, the aircraft on arrival at the MMA2 Apron was greeted with a water cannon, a symbolic act that could be interpreted as a welcoming blessing for the safety of flight operations, and an act of baptism into the trade.
Welcoming the crew and first passengers, Blessing Ewah, Bi-Courtney's Head of Operations, said:
"As I can see, this aircraft is excitingly looking good, so it would add a new flavour to the flying public.
"So we welcome Rano Air once again into the flying space and we wish them all the best."
The aircraft's pilot, Captain Moses Egbekun, said he was excited about the warm reception put together by the management of Bi-Courtney.
On his part, Bashir Ahmed, the Personal Assistant to the President (New Media) at the Office of the President, said on Twitter:
"Congratulations to @RanoAir on their successful launch today at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano. As we welcome you to the Nigeria's aviation sector, we hope you’d be reliable and stick to the time."
Trapped Funds: Foreign airlines begin charging Nigerians in dollars
Meanwhile, in another report, Legit.ng revealed that one of the foreign airlines, Delta Airlines, has started selling tickets to passengers in Nigeria in US dollars.
It was gathered that the new move was to stop the continuous pilling up of the airline’s funds trapped in the country.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Nigeria is the most indebted country to foreign airlines globally, with $551 million trapped.
Source: Legit.ng
