United Nigeria Airlines gets IOSA certification

United Nigeria Airlines has been successfully registered as an IOSA Operator under the IATA Operational Safety Audit program (IOSA) for the initial IOSA Audit which commenced last year.

A message from Nick Careen, IOSA’s senior vice president, of operations, safety and security, dated March 13, 2023, reads: “IATA is proud to recognize that United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited has been successfully registered as an IOSA Operator under the IATA Operational Safety Audit Programme (IOSA), in accordance with the provisions of the IOSA Program Manual”.

Mazi Osita Okonkwo, chief operating officer of United Nigeria Airlines, said the IOSA certification is a major achievement for the airline.

“We are extremely excited that we have formally achieved our target, set on the first day of operation, of operating according to best global standards, which IATA is the custodian of, within 2 years of taking to the skies.

“I must say that the audit process, which was thorough and tasking, has been a worthwhile exercise as it provided us invaluable opportunities to improve our processes and procedures.

“Our profound gratitude goes to the great Team United Nigeria that worked diligently and tirelessly to prepare and follow through the audit processes.

“We also thank our esteemed customers; your patronage and belief in us have pushed us to continue to pursue excellence in operations as we safely fly you daily to unite joyfully with your families, friends, associates and businesses.

“We thank our regulators and services partners who have guided and supported us in our journey so far.”

Okonkwo further stated, “The certification affirms that we are operating according to the best global operational safety standards, which we are very proud of. I can assure our esteemed customers that we will remain committed to these high standards as we expand our local operations and prepare for regional operations of which being on the IATA Registry is a requirement.”

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.