25 Years On, Airline Financing Woes Still Ground Nigeria’s Aviation Sector

It was a moment of sober reflection and honest reckoning as aviation stakeholders gathered for a special panel session on airline financing organized by League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) Annual Conference is poised to offer new direction and practical solutions to address the Nigerian aviation industry’s persistent financing gaps.

The event was held at Ikeja, Lagos recently, the high-profile event will run under the theme “Aviation Financing in Nigeria: The Risks, Opportunities and Prospects.” revisiting challenges that have plagued Nigeria’s air transport industry for over two decades. The discussion, led by a distinguished panel of experts, brought to the fore the recurring issues of risk, opportunity, and sustainability in airline and airport management.

Reflecting on the state of the industry, the session chair began with a candid admission — “At the level of our own business as airline operators at that time, it was a serious issue, and it hasn’t stopped since then. In fact, it’s worse today than it was 25 years ago.”

The remark set the tone for a deeply engaging dialogue, emphasizing that the financing problems faced by Nigerian airlines remain largely unresolved despite multiple policy reforms and interventions. The panelists — comprising seasoned operators, aviation experts, and infrastructure managers — examined the financial risks and opportunities within the air transport envelope, which includes airline management, airport operations, infrastructure, and aviation technology services.

The moderator, acknowledging the distinguished personalities on the high table, made it clear that the session was not about scripted responses but about truth-telling. “We already know the issues when it comes to financing — whether it’s infrastructure, airport, or airline financing. What we need now are holistic solutions. It can only be easier for us when practitioners speak their minds without fear,” he urged.

He invited participants to go beyond academic discussions and instead focus on “practical lessons” and actionable outcomes. “I wish we had bankers here,” he quipped, hinting at the absence of the financial sector’s voice in what should ideally be a cross-sectoral dialogue.FAAN GO Cashless Live

From the tone of the conversation, it was evident that the Nigerian aviation industry still struggles with limited access to affordable financing, currency instability, and high operational costs — all of which have crippled many local airlines over the years. The speakers underscored the need for a fresh, collaborative approach involving government, financial institutions, and operators themselves.

As one panelist noted, “Financing is not just about capital; it’s about trust, structure, and accountability. Until we fix these, we will keep revisiting the same conversation every decade.”

The session ended on a reflective note — a call for courage, transparency, and reform-driven action. Twenty-five years after these challenges first became evident, the industry stands at a crossroads once again — between repeating history and redefining its financial future.

Nigeria’s aviation leaders revisit 25 years of unresolved airline financing challenges, calling for honest dialogue, structural reforms, and practical solutions to secure the future of air transport.