After a year of successful operations, Nigeria’s ValueJet Airlines is gearing up for expansion.
The airline has announced its intentions to broaden its cargo operations, targeting West Coast countries through interlining partnerships with like-minded carriers and codeshare agreements.
Additionally, ValueJet aims to venture into executive charter operations and explore regional routes in the near future. These strategic moves signal the airline’s commitment to growth and diversification in the aviation industry.
According to businessday.ng, these plans were disclosed by Omololu Majekodunmi, the Managing Director of ValueJet, while celebrating the airline’s one year operations in Nigeria.
His words, “We are happy to have this many passengers to have experienced us in the 365 days of celebration, as of the past year, we had projected what the industry should be expecting from a startup airline like ValueJet.
We have surpassed most of the expectations by concentrating on very high standards of airport passenger processes, on-time Departure (OTD), and onboard service attendance. This is also together with consistent and high standards of staff service across both the airport and onboard service environments.”
He disclosed that in the second year, the carrier would be open to expansion of its cargo operations to the West Coast, interlining with other carriers with similar vision, codeshare, and providing the executive charter operations.
He equally stated that ValueJet would explore regional operations but noted that it would be carefully done to avoid problems that come with the overgrowth of fleets and routes in a short period of time.
“There has been lots of state government demand to start operations into their airports. We are sensitive to starting with those with great economic potential. Plateau state has been one with agricultural potential.”
The airline chief revealed that the carrier was about to open talks with an undisclosed airline in Africa that is interested in a partnership with ValueJet because of the products it offers which gives it an edge over its competitors, especially in On-Time Departure (OTD).
He advised airlines to shelve the idea of going it alone if they truly want to be profitable and reliable as airlines, hinting that his carrier is open for talks.
Majekodunmi described competition as healthy for the business, stressing that the airline was on the verge of formalizing an interline agreement with a domestic airline.
“Code sharing within the airlines in an alliance is healthy for the industry but first things should be put in place. Airlines clearinghouse and others are needful. This will help to strengthen and expand the airline’s presence and reduce wastage on seats.”
