Okada Air was an airline based in Benin City, Nigeria. The carrier was established in 1983 with a fleet of BAC-One Eleven 300s and started charter operations in September the same year. In 1984, a Boeing 707-355C was acquired for cargo operations. By 1990, ten BAC One-Elevens were bought, and eight more were acquired in 1991. The company was granted the right of operating international flights in 1992.
Okada Air: First Indigenous and One of the Largest
Okada Air is not only regarded as the first indigenous Nigerian airline, but it was also regarded as one of the largest independent African airlines prior to its collapse. At one point, it operated the Boeing 747-100 on ad-hoc charter flights across the globe, even across the Pacific Ocean. They also flew pilgrims to the Holy Lands every year.
In 1984, a Boeing 707-355C was acquired for cargo operations. By 1990, ten BAC One-Elevens were bought, and eight more were acquired in 1991. The company was granted the right of operating international flights in 1992.
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Destinations
Okada Air served the following destinations throughout its history:
Abuja – Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
Benin – Benin Airport
Enugu – Akanu Ibiam International Airport
Jos – Yakubu Gowon Airport
Kaduna – Kaduna Airport
Kano – Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport
Lagos – Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Port Harcourt – Port Harcourt International Airport
Yola – Yola Airport
Part of its historical fleet included the following:
BAC One-Eleven-200,
BAC One-Eleven-300
BAC One-Eleven-400
BAC One-Eleven-500
Boeing 727-200
Boeing 707-300
Boeing 747-100
Douglas DC-8-62
Sud Aviation Caravelle
Dornier Do 228-100
PZL W-3 Sokół (one)
Accidents and incidents: Fatal accidents and non-fatal hull losses
- On the 26th of June 1991, A BAC One-Eleven 402AP, registration 5N-AOW, force-landed 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) off Sokoto Airport due to fuel exhaustion. There were three fatalities, all of who were passengers. The aircraft had been diverted from the original Benin City–Kano route because of bad weather at the airport of destination.
- On the 7th of September 1989, A BAC One-Eleven 320AZ, registration 5N-AOT, that was finalising a domestic scheduled Lagos–Port Harcourt passenger service was written off on a hard landing caused by bad weather at Port Harcourt Airport.
- In 1992, A Dornier 228-100, registration 5N-NOR, resulted damaged beyond repair on landing at an unknown location in Nigeria.
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In 1997, the company was disestablished or better put, went under. It tried to return but at the time of its comeback, the Federal government – following an air crash – had banned aircraft BAC 1-11 and for an airline that had almost 20 BAC 1-11 during the time of that policy, it was quite difficult to bounce back with such a policy. The Nigerian media at one point reported Okada Air as planning to resume operations, but that plan hasn’t seen the daylight yet. There were plans to purchase 4 Boeing 727-200s and resume their flights, but nothing materialized after at least two restart attempts.
The owner of Okada Air is Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin; Esama meaning ‘Son of the People’.
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