The Edo State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Express Airline and KDN Aero in direction of establishing its proposed state-owned airline, Edo Air.
Governor Monday Okpebholo introduced the settlement in an X put up on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, describing it as a big step in direction of establishing the carrier.
The proposed airline is anticipated to create jobs, enhance tourism, entice funding, develop enterprise alternatives and enhance entry to air journey for residents of the state.
Edo signs MoU for state-owned airline
Okpebholo mentioned the proposed airline was supposed to help financial actions and create alternatives for residents and companies, reasonably than merely set up one other state-owned carrier.
- “I am excited to announce that today we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Express Airline and KDN Aero, marking a significant step towards establishing Edo Air, our proposed state-owned airline,” the governor’s put up learn partly.
He mentioned the airline would create employment alternatives, enhance tourism and entice investments into the state whereas increasing enterprise actions.
The governor added that Edo Air would make air journey extra accessible to residents, strengthen connectivity and open new financial alternatives for the state. He additionally expressed optimism in regards to the venture, declaring that Edo Air was coming.
However, the announcement didn’t disclose the proposed airline’s launch date, fleet measurement, route community, possession construction or monetary commitments by the companions.
How Edo chosen China Express Airline
The settlement adopted a fact-finding go to to China by a seven-member Edo State delegation on September 14, 2026, to determine potential technical and operational companions for the proposed airline, based on a report.
- The delegation was led by Secretary to the State Government Umar Musa Ikhilor and included the Head of Service, Dr Anthony Okungbowa; Accountant-General Julius Anelu; and the state’s Chief Aviation Consultant, Captain Nuhu Musa.
- During the go to, officers inspected China Express Airline and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the nation’s main plane producer, to evaluate their capabilities and discover attainable cooperation.
Ikhilor mentioned China Express made a stronger impression on the delegation, which toured its flight-monitoring operations and noticed a system monitoring flights throughout China, with 192 flights recorded by 10 a.m. on the day of the inspection.
The report mentioned Okpebholo described the airline’s operational capability as spectacular and indicated that the proposed carrier might start operations quickly. At the signing, Li offered the governor with a mannequin plane, whereas KDN Aero Managing Director Tianzhi Chen offered the corporate’s operations and capabilities.
Other Nigerian states already function airways
Edo’s proposed airline follows related initiatives by different state governments looking for to ascertain or help industrial air providers.
- Akwa Ibom launched Ibom Air in 2019. The airline connects Uyo with home locations together with Lagos, Abuja, Calabar and Enugu, in addition to Accra, Ghana, on its regional route.
- Cross River State followed in 2021 with Cally Air, established via a partnership with personal aviation operators. The airline, whose flight operations are managed by ValueJet, at the moment operates three plane and is pursuing a phased fleet enlargement anticipated to proceed into early 2027, together with the deliberate induction of one other CRJ plane.
- Enugu unveiled Enugu Air in July 2025 and commenced industrial flight operations as a part of its broader transportation enlargement plans.
- Ebonyi State introduced plans in August 2024 to ascertain an airline, initially proposing to amass 4 plane and entice personal traders to supply three extra.
Edo Air’s proposed partnership with China Express Airline and KDN Aero provides the state to a rising record of Nigerian states pursuing aviation initiatives. Its eventual operations will rely on the subsequent levels of the settlement and the event of the airline’s operational plans.
