IT'S ALL OVER: Air Nigeria ends international flights.

Air Nigeria makes its final long-haul flights on Monday after announcing the suspension of all services and laying off 800 staff last week.

Investors behind the airline have struggled to deal with $250m (£157m) of debt taken on when they bought the carrier from Virgin two years ago.

In June, Air Nigeria was grounded by regulators amid safety concerns.

If the airline can resolve its debt problems, it could yet return to the skies, analysts said.

The grounding of services by the country's aviation regulator followed a crash in June, involving a jet operated by Dana Air, which smashed into an apartment block in Lagos, killing 163 people.

Although an investigation into the crash is still ongoing, Dana has been given permission to start flying again.

Last week, the global air transport body IATA said the most pressing problem for African aviation is safety, with the continent's record of accidents nine times the worse than the global average.

The demise of Air Nigeria leaves the country with just four domestic carriers operating scheduled flights, a blow for efforts to develop the country's economy.

According to IATA, African aviation supports seven million jobs and business activity worth nearly $68bn.

Meanwhile, Nigeria's government is considering a strategy to create another national carrier.

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Posted: at 11-09-2012 05:21 AM (11 years ago) | Hero

What a pain

Posted: at 11-09-2012 05:51 AM (11 years ago) | Newbie

Why creat more national carrier when you can not handle the one you have?

Posted: at 11-09-2012 05:57 AM (11 years ago) | Newbie

It was bound to happen cuz corruption, stealing, nepotism, etc. would never allow it to work. When will something good come out of that country? It's a pity that 52 years after inependence and still no progress of any division whatsoever

Posted: at 11-09-2012 06:47 AM (11 years ago) | Hero

They are all thieves

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Posted: at 11-09-2012 02:08 PM (11 years ago) | Hero

Posted: at 11-09-2012 08:35 PM (11 years ago) | Grande Master

<<<

Posted: at 12-09-2012 11:51 PM (11 years ago) | Grande Master

 

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Posted: at 13-09-2012 05:37 AM (11 years ago) | Hero

We are all victims of privatization. Nigeria Airways was ruined first and then sold to friends then came all these phyuking shit private airlines. Thieves are not governed by reasons.

Posted: at 13-09-2012 06:02 AM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac

>>>>

Posted: at 13-09-2012 08:55 AM (11 years ago) | Grande Master