Talks between Ethiopian Airlines and Nigerian officials to establish a joint venture airline, Nigeria Air, have collapsed. The news comes after months of negotiations and highlights a shift in strategy by the Nigerian government.
Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew confirmed the development, stating that Nigeria “has lost interest in partnering with a foreign airline.” The proposed ownership structure would have seen Nigerian investors hold 46%, the Nigerian government 5%, and Ethiopian Airlines 49%.
While this setback ends the Nigeria Air project, Ethiopian Airlines remains committed to its multi-hub strategy across Africa. Tasew stated the airline is “evaluating” proposals from several African countries seeking partnership to establish sister airlines. These include the Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea.
Existing joint ventures continue to perform well, according to Tasew. ASKY, based in Togo with a 40% Ethiopian stake, and Malawi Airlines, Ethiopia’s first JV, are both cited as successes. Zambia Airways, where Ethiopian holds a 45% stake, is also experiencing positive development.
