Enugu Air has opened a new air corridor between South-East Nigeria and Central Africa with the launch of its maiden international flight from Akanu Ibiam International Airport to Douala, Cameroon, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
The service marks the airline’s first international operation since it commenced commercial flights on July 7, 2025, and gives passengers and businesses in Enugu and other parts of Nigeria a direct connection to one of Cameroon’s major economic centres.
The new route is expected to support trade, tourism, investment and movement between Nigeria and Cameroon, while creating another avenue for commercial and people-to-people relations across the region.
Governor Peter Mbah said the development reflected the ambition behind the creation of Enugu Air. He explained that the airline was established as part of a strategy to connect Enugu with markets and opportunities beyond Nigeria, rather than as a political accomplishment.
According to Mbah, the state’s objective is to strengthen Enugu’s appeal as a destination for investment, business, tourism and living. He described the Enugu-Douala service as a link between markets and opportunities and said it would reinforce the state’s position as a gateway to the world.
The governor also said Enugu Air had become one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing airlines and pledged continued state government support for initiatives aimed at improving connectivity and attracting people and businesses to Enugu.
Since commencing operations, the airline has established routes connecting Enugu with Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Owerri, Asaba, Benin and Osubi–Warri Airport.
Managing Director Tolu Ita said the Douala service represented a new chapter for Enugu Air, Enugu State and Nigeria.
She said the route would facilitate the movement of businesses, people, ideas and opportunities between Nigeria and Cameroon, adding that the airline plans to develop stronger regional networks across Africa while progressively opening access to international markets.
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku, represented by FAAN Enugu Operations Manager Onyeka Udenze, said the service demonstrated Nigeria’s capacity to connect people and businesses across West and Central Africa.
Kuku said passengers from Lagos, Abuja and other Nigerian cities could connect through Enugu to Douala. She assured stakeholders that FAAN would continue providing the infrastructure, safety standards and operational support required to sustain international air services at the airport.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority said the new route could strengthen commercial and social links between two important economic centres.
NCAA Director-General Chris Najomo, represented by the Director of Air Transport Regulations, Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe, said the Enugu-Douala connection could support trade, investment, tourism and the movement of people.
He said the service was also consistent with efforts to strengthen intra-African connectivity and economic integration.
Najomo cautioned that the airline’s expansion must remain firmly grounded in safety, security, regulatory compliance and operational reliability. He urged Enugu Air to maintain operational discipline, professionalism and service quality in its international operations.
The Douala launch comes just over a year after Enugu Air entered commercial service, marking a new phase in the carrier’s development and giving South-East Nigeria another direct aviation link with the Central African market.
The new route adds an international dimension to Enugu's aviation network and provides businesses, travellers and investors with another channel for engaging with Cameroon and the region.
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