Enugu Air launches direct Enugu-Douala service

Enugu Air has launched a direct route between Enugu and Douala, opening a new air connection between southeastern Nigeria and Cameroon. The airline’s inaugural flight landed at Douala International Airport at 2:48 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23.

Passengers and officials were received by Cameroonian authorities, airport officials, Nigerian community representatives and diplomatic guests. The flight was Enugu Air’s first major step beyond Nigeria. Some of the first passengers were presented with gifts by the airline, including Mrs Chukwuma, Mrs Love Chidiogarum and Mr Ogbonna Jude.

Chidiogarum said the direct service would allow her to avoid travelling to Lagos and sometimes booking a hotel before flying to Douala. She said she expected to use the route again for travel between Enugu and Cameroon. The route is expected by officials to make movement between the two countries easier for traders, businesses, tourists and families.

It also offers Enugu the prospect of serving as a regional gateway rather than relying mainly on Lagos and Abuja for international connections. Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah described the airline as part of a broader plan to position the state as a destination for investment, business, tourism and living. He said the airline had obtained its Air Operator’s Licence after a regulatory process lasting about six months.

Thomas Assoumou, general manager of Aéroports du Cameroun, said the route represented a new partnership between the two states. He noted that many Nigerian businesspeople lived in Cameroon and that the absence of flights could hinder economic activity. Enugu Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo said traders, manufacturers and entrepreneurs had long faced complex transit routes to reach Central African markets.

The new service, he said, could help them connect more efficiently with customers, suppliers and partners.