Federal Government and the Enugu State Government are working to commence direct cargo flight operations between Enugu and Guangzhou, China, before the end of 2026,
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo,disclosed that on Thursday at the launch of new aircraft acquired by the United Nigeria Airlines in Lagos .
Keyamo
He said the ongoing bilateral negotiations were aimed at establishing direct logistics flights linking China with the South-East, boosting trade and easing cargo movement for merchants in the region.
He revealed that discussions held recently with the Enugu state Governor , Dr Peter Mbah focused on securing the first direct cargo flight from Guangzhou to Enugu by December.
According to him, the initiative will enable South-East traders operating in China to consolidate goods into unified cargo shipments twice weekly for direct delivery to Enugu, from where they can be distributed to major commercial centres such as Onitsha and Aba.
Keyamo also disclosed that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport has undergone structural management reforms, with private investors now involved in its operations following presidential approval sought by the Enugu State Government.
He said the arrangement is designed to unlock the airport’s economic potential and transform it into a dedicated cargo hub serving the entire South-East region.
The minister noted that the airport now operates under a privately managed framework supported by the state government, with a strong focus on logistics, trade facilitation and regional economic growth.
The planned cargo route is expected to complement the state’s aviation expansion programme, which saw the launch of Enugu Air in July 2025 as part of efforts to develop a modern multimodal transport system and position Enugu as a major aviation and logistics hub.
Since its inauguration, Enugu Air has expanded its fleet from three to six aircraft and is preparing to commence regional services to destinations including Accra, Libreville and Abidjan, while also planning long-haul international operations later this year.
