Niger Airlines eyes ATR72s, E190s to expand regionally

Niger Airlines (6N, Niamey) is looking to acquire ATR72 turboprops and a pair of E190s, according to Chief Executive Officer Abdoul Aziz Larabou.

He has told African Aerospace that Niger’s only large-scale commercial airline is looking to expand beyond its domestic operations.

He also said the airline has bought two Fokker 50s to replace two of the type that had been on long-term lease from Palestinian Airlines (PNW, Al Arish).

Larabou was not immediately available for comment.

As reported, the Palestinian Authority shut down Palestinian Airlines at the end of 2020 and sold its two F50s. The aircraft had been on a long-term ACMI contract with Niger Airlines, which had fallen through in April that year due to the impact of COVID-19 on regional travel as well as Niger Airlines’ requirement for younger aircraft.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Niger Airlines operates one F50, 5U-NAA (msn 20123), currently in maintenance at Malmö. It was acquired in September 2020 from Palestinian Airlines where it flew as SU-YAH.

While its website shows it runs domestic frequencies from the capital, Niamey, to each of Diffa, Agades, and Zinder, it is uncertain if any Niger Airlines flights currently operate at this time.