United Nigeria Airlines to set up MRO Centre at Enugu airport
United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has unveiled plans to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu State.Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, the Chairman, UNA, stated this last week in a press briefing with aviation journalists in Lagos.
He, however, said that the airline was awaiting approval from the Enugu State Government to commence the project, stressing that the commencement or work of the facility would further enhance employment opportunities in the country. He explained that the choice of Enugu for the project was strategic, adding that the airline was also relocating its headquarters to the state.
He said: “About two weeks ago, we visited the Enugu State Governor and presented our requests before him. The governor actually agreed to all the requested and saw them as a necessity for us to grow. We are very hopeful and believing that he will match words with action.
“For instance, we asked for an appropriate location to build a corporate headquarters, staff quarters, and the MRO facility project needs space at the airport. There are issues of ownership between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other agencies that have been delaying the takeoff of that plan. We asked for intervention to see how that can be implemented.
“The choice of Enugu for our MRO is strategic. Enugu is the heart of the Southeast region and that is also the home of United Nigeria Airlines. In fact, in the next few weeks, many of our operations staff, who ought to work from the headquarters, will commence relocation to Enugu. That also solidifies our presence in the state and pushes us closer to achieving our target of setting up an MRO.”
Besides, he emphasised that as part of the airline’s strategic and expansion plans, it has opened new locations and routes across the country, while plans are also on to expand its frontier to the West Coast, continental and intercontinental.
