Guinea-Bissau Taps United Nigeria Airlines to Launch National Carrier Air Bissau
The Government of Guinea-Bissau has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria’s United Nigeria Airlines to establish a new national airline, to be known as AIR BISSAU, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s aviation sector and cutting its reliance on foreign carriers.
The agreement was formalised in Bissau by Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Transport, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Dr Florentino Pereira, and the Executive Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, according to a statement released by the airline on Sunday.
The partnership comes as Nigeria itself continues to lack a national carrier, despite longstanding calls from industry stakeholders for one to secure reciprocal flight rights—particularly to the United States. An earlier attempt to create a Nigerian flag carrier in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines collapsed amid lawsuits filed by the Airline Operators of Nigeria, a body for which Okonkwo once served as spokesperson. That project was also undermined by political infighting, fraud allegations and disputes over its proposed ownership structure.
Under the newly signed MoU, the two parties will explore a comprehensive cooperation framework to set up a fully operational national airline based at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau, which will serve as the hub for the carrier’s initial network. For decades, Guinea-Bissau has depended heavily on regional airlines and charter services to connect its citizens and businesses with the rest of the world.
A central element of the deal is the creation of a joint venture company to function as Guinea-Bissau’s flag carrier. United Nigeria Airlines will supply the bulk of the financial investment, operational know-how, aircraft and management. Notably, the Nigerian airline is also expected to provide and operate an executive jet for the use of Guinea-Bissau’s president and government.
In support of the initiative, the Guinea-Bissau government has committed to facilitating the registration and licensing of the new carrier in line with domestic laws and to streamlining approval processes through both Guinea-Bissau’s and Nigeria’s civil aviation authorities. It will also formally designate AIR BISSAU as its official national airline, granting it full rights under all existing Bilateral Air Services Agreements. The designation is expected to give the carrier significant leverage in securing route rights and authorisations to regional and international destinations, representing a valuable commercial and diplomatic asset.
Further, the government pledged to ensure that Osvaldo Vieira International Airport receives necessary infrastructure support, including access provisions, ground handling services, and assistance with customs, immigration and security compliance. It will also invest in the airline’s establishment and put in place mechanisms to protect and incentivise investment through the country’s Investment Code and applicable tax frameworks.
To build local aviation capacity, United Nigeria Airlines plans to train qualified Guinean nationals as pilots, cabin crew and technical maintenance personnel, and to employ local staff wherever feasible in line with government employment policies. Operational control of the airline, however, will remain with the Nigerian partner. The statement clarified that “for the purposes of safety, reliability, and efficiency, the overall management, operational control, and general direction of the new airline will rest with the management team of United Nigeria Airlines.”
Both parties have agreed to maintain full liability and hull insurance coverage for all flight operations, to conduct annual independent safety and maintenance audits, and to establish asset protection mechanisms for investors. The MoU takes immediate effect and will remain valid for 18 months or until a substantive joint venture agreement is concluded.