Nigeria: United Nigeria Airlines signed an MoU with Guinea Bissau to establish the country’s national carrier ‘Air Bissau’. The airline will be headquartered at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport.
Reportedly, the United Nigeria Airlines will provide financial investment, operational expertise, aircraft and professional management support under a joint venture structure. The agreement was signed in Bissau by Guinea-Bissau’s Transport Minister, Dr. Florentino Mendes Pereira and UNA Chairman Prof. Obiora Okonkwo. The MoU takes immediate effect and remains valid for 18 months, or until a final joint venture agreement is concluded.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Guinea-Bissau Government will designate Air Bissau as the country’s official national carrier. It will be granted with rights under existing Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) to strengthen its access to regional and international routes.
As per the sources, UNA will oversee management and operational control. It will stay committed to train Guinean nationals as pilots, cabin crew and technical personnel. The deal includes provisions for annual independent safety and maintenance audits with full liability and hull insurance coverage. It will provide asset protection mechanisms to safeguard UNA’s investment against regulatory uncertainty by signalling a structured and commercially focused approach to improve connectivity across West Africa.
Nigerian airline, United Nigeria Airlines has signed an MoU with Guinea Bissau to establish the country’s national carrier, Air Bissau.
The airline will be headquartered at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport.
United Nigeria Airlines will provide financial investment,… pic.twitter.com/8vYBinzEn2
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Government of Guinea-Bissau pledged to facilitate the registration, certification and licensing processes for Air Bissau through its Civil Aviation Authority. They will also work with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure smooth regulatory approvals.
The official statement says: “The government has pledged to designate the newly formed airline as the official national carrier of Guinea-Bissau, granting it full rights over all existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) entitlements.”
“This designation would give the airline significant leverage in securing route rights and authorisations to regional and international destinations which is an important commercial and diplomatic asset,” added the statement.
Both nations described the agreement as a strategic partnership that would strengthen aviation links within West Africa. It will also position Guinea-Bissau as an emerging player in the regional air transport sector.