Top 10 cheap and best airlines to fly in Nigeria

In recent years, Nigerians have enjoyed comfortable air transport with different public and private-owned airlines in various states in Nigeria.

Most of these airlines have acquired quality aircraft more than the others, setting a more comfortable environment for their customers traveling from one place to another.

Some have also provided outstanding services to travelers, adding to their environmental setups, making them one of the best airlines to fly in Nigeria.

Some of these airlines travel within the country, while some operate locally and internationally.

Let us look at the top 10 best airlines to fly in Nigeria that gives travelers a safe and sound trip to different places in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

 Top 10 best and cheap airlines to fly in Nigeria

1. Air Peace
2. Dana Air
3. Arik Air
4. Aero Contractors
5. First Nation Air
6. Azman Air
7. Overland Air
8. Max Air
9. Allied Air
10. Ibom Air

 1. Air Peace

Air Peace is number one in the top 10 best airlines to fly in Nigeria. Air Peace is a privately owned Nigerian airline that was established in 2013 by a Nigerian lawyer and businessman Allen Onyema.

It has its operation base in Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos State, Nigeria. The airline provides both charter and passenger services to travelers.

It has multiple aircraft that it uses to make sure complete and comfortable services are rendered to its customers, including Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-500, Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 777-200ER, Boeing 777-300, Embraer ERJ-145, and Embraer E195-E2.

Air Peace runs its transportation locally and internationally, including its route to Accra in Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

Its route in Nigeria includes Abuja, Akure, Asaba, Benin City, Calabar, Enugu, Ilorin, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Owerri, Port HarcourtPort, Uyo, and Yola.

Air Peace gives the freedom of checking 25kg luggage for economy class and 40kg luggage for business class, and that has made it rank as one of the best airlines to fly in Nigeria.

In 2018, Air Peace had the largest market share in the domestic airline market in Nigeria, which pushed it to become the number one ranked airline among the top ten airlines to fly in Nigeria.

 2. Dana Air

Dana airline is the second-best airline in Nigeria among the top ten best airlines to fly in Nigeria on our list. It has its operation base in Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria.

Dana Airlines has been one of the best airlines any traveler can think of since it picked its operation in 2014 after a crash in Lagos in 2012 that made the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority collect its license in 2012 and 2013.

Currently, Dana airline runs only local services, with Abuja, Enugu, Lagos, Owerri, and Port Harcourt being the only routes it operates in Nigeria.

To maintain its services as one of the best airlines in Nigeria, Dana airlines has eight different aircraft, including two Boeing 737-300, one McDonnell Douglas MD-82, and five McDonnell Douglas MD-83s.

 3. Arik Air

Arik Air airline makes it to the number 3 on our list of the top 10 best airlines to fly in Nigeria. Arik Air was formerly known as Nigeria Airways when it was first established in 1958.

The airline has two operation bases Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Its head office is at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at Arik Air Aviation Center.

Before it was terminated, Arik airline had its services rendered around different parts of West African countries, including Ghana, Gabon, Cameroon, Senegal, and South Africa. It also ran through the United States and the United Kingdom before it was all terminated.

In 2021, Arik airline has only domestic routes running through Lagos, Abuja, Benin City, Ilorin, Jos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri and Yola.

Arik airline has provided different aircraft for its customers to ensure maximum service is rendered to travellers. That has made it one of the best airlines in Nigeria in the top ten airlines to fly in Nigeria.

Its aircraft include Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 787-9, Bombardier CRJ900, Bombardier CRJ1000 and De Havilland Dash 8-400.

 4. Aero Contractors

Aero Contractors is the 4th best airline to fly in Nigeria among the top ten airlines to fly in Nigeria. It is one of the oldest airlines in Nigeria that was established in 1960.

It is an airline that is based at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. Over 40% per cent of Aero shares are owned by the Ibru family, while 60% are owned by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

It has two different divisions, Aero Nigeria that provides services to passengers in Nigeria, and Rotary Wing that provides helicopter services to the Nigerian oil and gas industry. This has pushed it to become one of the best airlines to fly in Nigeria.

Its routes in Nigeria include Abuja, Asaba, Benin City, Kano, Enugu, Lagos, Bauchi, Port Harcourt and Sokoto.

To maintain its position as one of the best airlines in Nigeria, Aero Contractor has 7 aircraft that it uses to provide maximum service to its customers, including one Boeing 737-400, two Boeing 737-500, one De Havilland Dash 8-Q200, one De Havilland Dash 8-Q300 and two De Havilland Dash 8-Q400.

 5. First Nation Air

First Nation Airlines is the fifth-best airline in Nigeria in the top best airlines to fly in Nigeria. First Nation airline is a private-owned airline that renders its services to only passengers.

It is based at Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos. First Nation airline started its operation in 2013 from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja. In general, its first destination was Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

Now it runs through many routes both locally and internationally, including Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Cairo, Egypt (one of Africa's richest countries, United Kingdom, Accra Ghana, Dubai, Minsk Belarus, Asaba, Enugu, Moscow, Riyadh, Beruit Lebanon, Kaduna, Nairobi, Saint Petersburg, Benin City, Kano, Owerri and Uyo.

The First Nation airline previously had three Airbus A320-200 in 2011, but currently, it only has two Airbus A319-100 aircraft.

 6. Azman Air

Azman airline is the 6th best airline in Nigeria in the list top best airlines to fly in Nigeria. Azman airline is a Nigerian-based airline located in Kano State, the northern part of Nigeria.

It was found in 2010 by Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, a Nigerian businessman. Azman airline fully started its operation in 2014, running from Kano state to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

It has six aircraft that runs its service to different states in Nigeria, including one Airbus A340-600, two Boeing 737-300 and three Boeing 737-500.

Azman's airline destinations include Abuja, Asaba, Benin City, Birnin Kebbi, Gombe, Kaduna, Lagos, Maiduguri, Kano, and the Bahamas in Nassau international airport.

 7. Overland Air

The overland airline is the 7th best airline in Nigeria among the top ten best airlines to fly in Nigeria. The airline was established in 2002 with two hubs located at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Its main base is Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos. To maintain strong services, Overland airline operates locally in Nigeria within six different destinations, including Abuja, Akure, Ibadan, Ilorin, Taraba and Lagos.

As one of the best airlines in Nigeria, the Overland airline has nine aircraft that it uses to render maximum service to its customers, including four ATR 42, three ATR 72 and two Beechcraft 1900D.

 8. Max Air

Max airline is the eighth-best airline in Nigeria in our list of top best airlines to fly in Nigeria. Max airline was established in 2008 by Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, a businessman.

It has its base located at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, northern Nigeria.

Max airline renders its services both locally and internationally. It is one of the longest-serving international airlines in Nigeria, and this has made it one of the best airlines in Nigeria.

The airline operates in seven different routes in Nigeria including Abuja, Bauchi, Benin City, Birnin Kebbi, Jos Kano, Kastina, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Kano, Yola and Sokoto.

Max airline has seven aircraft for transportation to maintain its maximum services, including four Boeing 737-300, two Boeing 747-400 and one Learjet 45.

 9. Allied Air

Allied airline is the ninth-best airline in Nigeria among the top ten best airlines in Nigeria. The airline was found in 1998 by Valentine Tongo.

It has different routes locally and internationally, including Libreville, Gabon, which runs five times a week, Douala, Cameroon, five times a week.

Nairobi, Kenya thrice a week, Liege, Belgium thrice a week, Port Harcourt five times a week and Abuja six times a week.

Allied Airlines currently added three aircraft to its initial four aircraft to maximize its services, including four Boeing 727 Freighter Aircraft and three Boeing 737-400F aircraft.

 10. Ibom Air

Ibom airline is the 10th best airline to fly in Nigeria. It is a state-owned airline that was established in 2019. The airline is the first airline in Nigeria to be owned by a state government.

It made it first transportation from Victor Attah International Airport Uyo to Muritala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Ibom airline has a partnership with Dana air which is aimed at providing maximum and comfortable services to travellers in Nigeria.

It has five different destinations in Nigeria, including Abuja, Calabar, Enugu, Uyo and Lagos. To maintain its position as one of the best airlines in Nigeria, it has seven aircraft available for its travellers.