Multiple award-winning airline, Dana Air, has introduced daily flights from the federal capital territory, Abuja, to the garden city, Port-Harcourt. The airline now operates daily flights from Abuja to Port-Harcourt at 3.15pm with a return flight from Port-Harcourt to Abuja at 4.56pm.

In a statement made available to aviation correspondents, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, Jacky Hathiramani said, "In fulfillment of our promise to fly to key destinations across the country, and in response to growing demands from our esteemed guests, we have commenced operations on the Abuja-Port Harcourt-Abuja route, offering leisure and business travelers between the two cities the same world-class services which has made Dana Air the number one choice for travel across Nigeria."

"Guests can visit our website www.flydanaair.com to avail low introductory fares. You can also complete your check-in online from the comfort of your home or office, thereby reducing or eliminating waiting time at airport check-in counters. Check-in opens between 24hrs and 90mins before scheduled departure", Hathiramani added.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies Plc, Dana Air is one of Nigeria's leading airlines, operating over 22 daily flights to Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Uyo. The airline is reputed for its efficient customer services, world-class in-flight services, on-time departures and arrivals, innovative e-airline products and high safety and quality standards.

Multiple award-winning airlines, Dana Air, has announced that it will resume flight operations to the garden city, Port-Harcourt on Monday, March 28, 2011. The airline will offer services from Port-Harcourt, to Lagos and Abuja.

In a statement made available to aviation correspondents, Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air said, “Our commitment has always been to satisfy the demands of our guests and the reinstatement of flights to Port-Harcourt is further proof of our commitment to the growth of Nigeria’s fledging aviation industry.

According to Hathiramani, “From our operational base at MMA2 Lagos, we will operate two (2) daily flights to Port-Harcourt at 7:20am and 4.20pm, and two (2) return flights from Port-Harcourt to Lagos at 9:09am and 6.00pm. We will also offer daily flights from Abuja to Port-Harcourt at 3:15pm with a return leg to Abuja at 4:56pm.”

Dana Air’s vision is ‘to be recognized and respected as Nigeria’s most reliable and customer-friendly airline’, and this, says Hathiramani, “we will achieve by consistently demonstrating our commitment to service, and providing affordable regional air transport services that focus on innovation, quality and service excellence.”

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air is one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, operating over 22 daily flights to Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Uyo. The airline is reputed for its efficient customer services, world-class in-flight services, on-time departures and arrivals, innovative e-airline products and high safety and quality standards.

Award-winning airline, Dana Air, has announced that it will commence online check-in from Monday, February 21, 2011. With the introduction of this service, guests of the airline, including those travelling with checked baggage, can check-in online thereby reducing waiting time at airport queues. “Now you can select your seat, print your boarding passes and complete your check-in online from the comfort of your home or office by simply visiting www.flydanaair.com”, said Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air. According to Hathiramani, “Our online check-in system uses new technology to provide an interactive online facility that will improve the airport experience, promote guest convenience and enable a hassle free check-in experience.” Dana Air’s online check-in service is open from between 24 hours to 90 minutes prior to scheduled departure for confirmed bookings, from all cities in the Dana Air network. Online check-in can be accessed via flydanaair.com using booking confirmation numbers or flight details to retrieve each reservation. Having printed their boarding cards at home, guests without check-in bags can proceed directly through airport security while those with check-in bags can simply present their luggage at the express baggage check-in counter before proceeding through airport security to the boarding gate. With the introduction of the online check-in system, Dana Air is continuing to use technology to enhance its customers’ flying experience by simplifying air travel and saving valuable time. Recipient of several awards for excellence, Dana Air is one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, operating daily flights to Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Uyo. The airline is reputed for its efficient customer services, world-class in-flight services, on-time departures and arrivals, innovative e-airline products and high safety and quality standards.

Multiple award-winning airline, Dana Air, has partnered with ConnectNigeria.com - an information search portal – towards providing unbeatable flight deals, including discounts on air tickets, to new and existing customers.

Under the partnership, visitors to ConnectNigeria.com website will get an electronically generated voucher when they click the Dana Air advert banner on the website. The coupon entitles guests to a variety of discounts on tickets’ purchase as well as other benefits like lunch vouchers, Spa treatments and the best hotel deals.

Commenting on the relationship, Tony Usidamen, Dana Air Communications Manager said, “We are very pleased to partner with ConnectNigeria.com to offer more value-added services to the travelling public. This unique alliance is in furtherance of our mission which is to earn the loyalty of our customers by consistently demonstrating our commitment to service, and providing affordable regional air transport services that focus on innovation, quality and service excellence.”

Oludamola Akindolire, Business Development Executive for ConnectNigeria.com, expressed appreciation to the management of Dana Air for recognising the online search portal as a veritable platform to reach its existing and potential customers. In his words, “This partnership is the first of its kind in West Africa where a major airline operator such as Dana Air recognises an online search portal as a medium to offer value-added services to guests."

Akindolire noted that the practice is common all over the world and has become the most efficient way for businesses to increase their profits through collaboration with common interest. He said, “This partnership would allow www.ConnectNigeria.com share its internet traffic with the airline's website www.flydanaair.com in order to increase the airline's online ticket sales at a discounted price.”

ConnectNigeria.com is the most innovative information search portal in Nigeria, born out of NextDaySite.com's desire to expose Nigeria's businesses and information - thereby connecting Nigeria to the world and the world to Nigeria. The portal provides the fastest, easiest and most innovative way for you to find information about businesses, real estate, automobiles, jobs, events, travel, sports, entertainment, health, education, technology and lots more.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air is one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, operating over 18 daily flights to Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Uyo. The airline is reputed for its efficient customer services, world-class in-flight services, on-time departures and arrivals, innovative e-airline products and high safety and quality standards.

In the spirit of the valentine season, multiple award-wining airline, Dana Air, has unveiled a special valentine promo for its esteemed guests. From 6th to 14th February 2011, guests travelling with their spouse or partner will get as much as 50% discount off the full fare for their spouse or partner. Also, guests who travel with the airline on 14th February stand a chance to win exciting gifts onboard.

Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Jacky Hathiramani, who unveiled the promo said, “The Valentine season is a time to renew the bond of love with our dear ones and, with our special valentine promo, we want to encourage our guests to fly with their loved ones to any of our destinations this season. Individual guests who book their ticket and travel on February 14 can also avail our special fare of N9, 990 for a one-way economy ticket.”

Guests who fly Dana Air on Valentine’s Day also stand a chance to win fantastic gifts on board. According to Hathiramani, “Gift vouchers for couples’ complimentary stay at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Le Meridien Ibom Hotels & Golf Resort, Uyo, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja and Four Points by Sheraton Lagos Hotel will be given out in a raffle draw. Other gifts up for grabs are free Munchies meal vouchers as well as Philips DVD players.”

Valentine’s Day or Saint Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 in most parts of the world. It is a day when friends and lovers express their love for each other by exchanging cards, flowers, sweets and confectionary. In recent times, the day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of ‘Valentines’.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air is one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, operating daily flights to Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Uyo. The airline is reputed for its efficient customer services, world-class in-flight services, on-time departures and arrivals, innovative e-airline products and high safety and quality standards.

As Dana Air celebrates one year of successful flight operations to the Land of Promise – Akwa Ibom state, the Chief Executive Officer, Jacky Hathiramani, has commended the Government and People of the state for their warm reception since the airline had its first commercial flight to Uyo on January 18, 2010.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, Hathiramani disclosed that the decision to extend its services to Uyo has proved to be very rewarding for the airline, thanks to the immense support it has enjoyed from the Akpabio-led State Government and the continued patronage of all its esteemed guests.

In his words, “The commitment of the Akwa Ibom State Government to creating prosperity, developing infrastructure and providing a secured gate way world for the people of Akwa Ibom State, and our determination to fly to key destinations across the federation has ensured that our Uyo operation is a success.”

“We are grateful to His Excellency, Dr. Godswill Akpabio, for giving us the opportunity to partner with the state towards promoting industry and tourism, and to all our guests for making Dana Air their number one airline for travel in and out of Uyo.”

Only recently, Dr. Akpabio put the total number of passengers airlifted in and out of Akwa Ibom International Airport in 2010 at 138,000. Dana Air accounted for 72 per cent of this figure, with a total passenger load of 99, 360 on the Lagos-Uyo-Lagos and Uyo-Abuja-Uyo routes.

At present, Dana Air operates one daily flight from Lagos to Uyo at 8.55am with a return flight from Uyo to Lagos at 1:53pm. The airline also offers daily flights from Uyo to Abuja at 10:35am with a return trip to Uyo at 12:06pm.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air is one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, operating over 18 daily flights to Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Uyo. The airline is reputed for its efficient customer services, world-class in-flight services, on-time departures and arrivals, innovative e-airline products and high safety and quality standards.

Award -winning airline, Dana Air, has been named the Best Airline Operator of the Year at the Nigeria@50 edition of the Lagos Enterprise Awards (LEAD) which held on September 24, 2010 at the Event Centre, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

LEAD is an annual award created to promote enterprise initiatives, excellence and the culture of economic advancement in Africa. It aims to position, recognize and reward innovators of excellent ideas and organizations that are lending enterprise revolution in variant fields of endeavors in Africa.

According to the Award Research Committee, Dana Air emerged winner based on its excellent performance in the year under review. Criteria for selection include the most proficient, reliable and quality service delivery that is geared towards customer’s satisfaction in the aviation industry.

In his response, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, Jacky Hathiramani, expressed gratitude to the organizers for the awards. He said, "We are delighted at receiving yet another laurel and we are greater motivated to deliver excellent air transport services to our guests at all times."

"Our vision is to be recognised and respected as Nigeria's most reliable and customer-friendly airline and our mission is to earn the loyalty and respect of our customers by consistently demonstrating our commitment to service, and providing affordable regional air transport services that focus on innovation, quality and service excellence", Hathiramani re-iterated.

In less than two years of its operations, Dana Air has grown to become one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, operating over 18 daily flights to Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Uyo. Recipient of several awards for aviation service excellence, the airline is reputed for its efficient customer services, world- class in-flight services, on-time departures and arrivals, innovative e-airline products and high safety and quality standards.

Lead is positioned to be the African version of the Nobel Prize that was founded by Alfred Nitre Nobel of Sweden; it will research Africa’s inventions and discoveries in science, technology and industry, rewarding initiators accordingly.

Award-winning airline, Dana Air, has been named the ‘Best Safety and Security Conscious Airline in Nigeria at the Nigeria@50 edition of Security Watch Africa Awards which held on the 24th of September 2010 at the prestigious Crown Plaza, Johannesburg – The Rosebank, South Africa.

Patrick Agbambu, International Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of Security Watch Africa said that Dana Air clinched the coveted award as a result of its commitment to high principles of safety and security in its national operations since inception and its compliance to ICAO’s standards for aviation operations internationally.

“Four domestic airlines were initially nominated for the award and Dana Air came tops, following inspection of its office and airport facilities and assessment of its safety and security policy and procedures by the Awards Panel of Judges made up of security and safety experts”, Agbambu explained.

Responding to the award, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, Jacky Hathiramani expressed appreciation to the Security Watch Africa team for the award. In his words, “We are grateful to the organizers of the awards for the honour conferred on the airline and would also like to commend the NCAA, under the leadership of Dr. Harold Demuren, and all concerned aviation agencies for their efforts in ensuring secure and safer skies for Nigerians.”

“At Dana Air we place a high premium on safety. We adhere strictly to the maintenance schedule for all aircrafts in our fleet, as prescribed by the manufacturers and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and we ensure that every cadre of staff participates in regular training programmes and update courses to ensure safety and quality at all levels of our operations”, Hathiramani noted.

Since commencing operations in November 2008, Dana Air has been nominated for several awards in Nigeria and was named ‘Best IT-Driven Airline of the Year 2009’ by two (2) renowned Information Technology bodies. The airline also bagged the Aviation Service Excellence Award at the West African Branding Excellence Awards 2010 and was named the Best Airline Operator of the Year at the Lagos Enterprise Awards 2010.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air is one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, operating over 18 daily flights to Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Uyo. The airline is reputed for its efficient customer services, world-class in-flight services, on-time departures and arrivals, innovative e-airline products and high safety and quality standards.

In commemoration of Nigeria’s 50th anniversary, award-winning airline, Dana Air, will be giving away a special anniversary gift to a lucky guest on all its flights, beginning August 30, 2010. Tagged ‘Fly ‘n’ Win’ promo, the Independence anniversary offer will last for 50 days, ending on October 18, 2010.

According to Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, “As we attain the golden age of fifty (50) as a nation this October, what better way to celebrate than to offer our esteemed guests the chance to win a special anniversary gift from their most reliable and customer-friendly airline, Dana Air.”

“For 50 days, Dana Air will give away an instant gift to one lucky winner in a raffle draw that will be conducted for guests onboard. Every ticket you buy between August 30 and October 18, 2010 qualifies you for the raffle so you stand a chance to win every time you fly with us”, Hathiramani added.

In less than two years of its operations, Dana Air has grown to become one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, operating over 18 daily flights to Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Uyo. Recipient of several awards for aviation service excellence, the airline is reputed for its efficient customer service, world-class in-flight services, on-time departure and arrival, innovative e-airline products and high safety and quality standard.

The 1st October is celebrated as Independence Day in Nigeria each year. It commemorates the granting of full independence from Britain on 1st October 1960.

Award-winning airline, Dana Air, has added yet another feather to its cap. The airline bagged West Africa’s Branding Merit Award for Aviation Service Excellence at the West African Branding Excellence Awards 2010 held at the Lagos Sheraton Hotels & Towers, Ikeja on Wednesday, April 21, 2010.

In its 2nd edition, the West African Branding Excellence Award is an annual event organized by the Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria, IBMN. The award aims to identify, recognize and reward companies that apply branding culture and brand management best practices to the analysis, planning, implementation and control of policies, designed to achieve corporate objectives in both profit and non-profit organizations in West African countries.

Dana Air emerged winner of the ‘Airlines and Aviation Brands’ category, ahead of its competitors, after gathering the highest number of votes in a public survey conducted by the Award Technical Committee made up of brand experts, researchers and journalists. The criteria for this award category include time-based brand experience, service-delivery schedule, operational excellence and ethical standards and policies.

Commenting on the award, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, Jacky Hathiramani said, “We are delighted that our hard work is being recognized by a reputable organization such as IBMN. At Dana Air, our vision is to become Nigeria’s most reliable and customer-friendly airline and this award is further proof that we are on the right track. We will, however, not relent in our efforts but we will continually look at new and exciting ways of meeting, and even exceeding, the flying aspirations of Nigerians.”

The Aviation Service Excellence Award is the third honor being conferred on Dana Air since commencing operations on November 10, 2008. The airline was named ‘Best IT-Driven Airline of the Year 2009’ by two (2) renowned Information Technology bodies, namely Technology Africa – organizer of the National ICT Merit Award (NIMA) and Nigeria Computer Society – organizer of the National Information Technology Merit Award (NITMA).

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

Nigeria’s first new world carrier, Dana Air, has announced that it will commence scheduled operations to the new Akwa Ibom International Airport, Uyo, as from Monday, January 18, 2010. The airline will offer services from Uyo, the Land of Promise, to Lagos and Abuja.

In a statement made available to aviation correspondents, Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, said “We are pleased to extend our world-class services to the good people of Akwa Ibom State. Indeed, the addition of Uyo on our route network is further proof of our commitment to the growth of Nigeria’s fledging aviation industry and in fulfillment of our promise to fly to key destinations across the federation.”

“At Dana Air, we recognize the importance of Akwa Ibom State in the socio-economic development of the country as an oil producing state. With the State playing host to several multinational companies in the oil & gas industry, we are confident that our new services from Uyo to Lagos and Abuja will make the State even more attractive to investors”, the Chief Executive Officer explained.

Hathiramani said that the new services from Uyo to Lagos and Abuja will operate seven days a week, Monday to Sunday. In his words, “From our operational base at MMA2 Lagos, we will operate one daily flight to Uyo at 10:35hrs with a return flight from Uyo to Lagos at 15:30hrs. We will also offer daily flights from Uyo to Abuja at 12:15hrs with a return trip to Uyo at 13:50hrs.”

Dana Air currently operates twelve (12) flights daily on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route, four (4) flights daily on the Lagos-Port Harcourt-Lagos route, two (2) flights daily on the Lagos-Enugu-Lagos and Lagos-Kano-Lagos routes, and two (2) daily connecting flights between the cities of Abuja and Kano.

At present, the Dana Air fleet consists of four (4) Boeing MD83 aircrafts which have a higher number of passenger seats and a larger cargo capacity than currently available in the country. The airline offers a two class service with 12 seats in its dedicated ‘Smart Class’ business cabin and 128 seats in its spacious ‘Traveler Class’ economy cabin.

Dana Air places a high premium on safety. The airline has a technical partnership with Iberia for maintenance of aircrafts in its fleet and adheres strictly to the maintenance schedule for its aircrafts, as prescribed by the manufacturers and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. More detailed and scheduled checks of the Boeing MD83 aircrafts are, however, carried out at the Iberia aircrafts maintenance facility in Madrid, Spain.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air has become one of Nigeria’s leading airlines with a staggering 17.1% market share on the five (5) domestic routes it currently flies to, in just 13 months of its operations. In 2009, the airline was awarded ‘Best IT-Driven Airline of the Year’ by two (2) respected and independent Information Technology bodies in Nigeria.

Akwa Ibom State was created on September 23, 1987 out of the then Cross River State with Uyo as its capital. It is a major oil producing state which serves as operational base to a number of multinational companies. The government has, however, made attempts to diversify the state economy along the lines of mechanised agriculture, tourism and IT. This is typified by the Ibom Rice, IT parks initiatives, and the 5-star Ibom Meridien Hotel and Resort, and world class golf course.

The new Akwa Ibom International Airport, Uyo was officially commissioned on September 23, 2009.

Dana Air, Nigeria’s newest carrier, has been named the Best IT-Driven Airline of the year 2009 at the National Information Technology Merit Award (NITMA) 2009, organized by the Nigeria Computer Society. This brings to two the number of IT awards conferred on the airline in just 13 months of its operations.

NITMA is an annual ICT award organised by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) to acknowledge, celebrate and reward outstanding corporate organisations and individuals in Nigeria who have played major roles in the development and growth of Information Technology, and Dana Air emerged winner of the IT-Driven Airline of the Year Award through a public survey conducted on the NCS website.

Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, Jacky Hathiramani, expressed delight over the recent award by the Nigeria Computer Society. He re-iterated the airline's commitment to the provision of world-class air transport services to Nigerians and assured that the airline would continue to explore new and exciting ways of making its passengers’ flying experience more pleasurable, deploying the latest technologies.

Dana Air had its inaugural flight on November 10, 2008. In just 12 months of its operations, Dana Air has become one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, with a staggering 17.1% market share on the five (5) domestic routes it currently flies to.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

Determined to make this yuletide a special one for its guests, Dana Air will, on Friday, 25th December, 2009 and Friday, 1st January, 2010, offer seats for as low as N9, 990 for a one-way ticket to any of its destinations. Also, guests who travel with the airline on both days will receive an assortment of gifts on board.

The Dana Air Yuletide package was unveiled to journalists by Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of the airline. According to Hathiramani, “From December 23, 2009 our valued guests can avail our special fare of N9, 990 for travel only on December 25, by booking and paying for their tickets online using their Interswitch or eTransact debit cards. Similarly, online booking and payment for travel on January 1, 2010 will open on December 30, 2009. Special gifts have also been packaged for everyone who flies with us this Friday to make this yuletide truly special.”

Hathiramani said that the airline decided to introduce the special fare on Christmas and New Year day as its gift to its guests, in appreciation of their patronage throughout the year, and in the spirit of the season. “We also want to encourage more people to take advantage of the special fares to be with their loved ones this yuletide, “he added.

At present, Dana Air operates twelve (12) flights daily on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route, four (4) flights daily on the Lagos-Port Harcourt-Lagos route, two (2) flights daily on the Lagos-Enugu-Lagos and Lagos-Kano-Lagos routes, and two (2) daily connecting flights between the cities of Abuja and Kano.

In just 12 months of its operations, Dana Air has become one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, with a staggering 17.1% market share on the five (5) domestic routes it currently flies to.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

Determined to make this Christmas a special one for its guests, Dana Air will, on Friday, 25th December, offer seats for as low as N9, 990 for a one-way ticket to any of its destinations. Also, guests who travel with the airline on the day will receive an assortment of gifts on board.

The Dana Air Christmas day package was unveiled to journalists by Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of the airline. According to Hathiramani, “From December 23, 2009 our valued guests can avail our special Xmas fare of N9, 990 for travel only on December 25, by booking and paying for their tickets online using their Interswitch or eTransact debit cards. Special gifts have also been packaged for everyone who flies with us this Friday to make their Christmas truly special.”

Hathiramani said that the airline decided to introduce the special fare on Christmas day as one of its gifts to its guests, in appreciation of their patronage throughout the year, and in the spirit of the season. “We also want to encourage more people to take advantage of the special fares to be with their loved ones this yuletide, “he added.

At present, Dana Air operates twelve (12) flights daily on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route, four (4) flights daily on the Lagos-Port Harcourt-Lagos route, two (2) flights daily on the Lagos-Enugu-Lagos and Lagos-Kano-Lagos routes, and two (2) daily connecting flights between the cities of Abuja and Kano.

In just 12 months of its operations, Dana Air has become one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, with a staggering 17.1% market share on the five (5) domestic routes it currently flies to.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

Guests of Dana Air, Nigeria’s first new world carrier, have one more reason to smile this Christmas season as the airline launches a new promo which will see guests go home with exciting Philips gift on purchase of air tickets for travel on its Enugu, Port Harcourt and Kano routes.

“From December 11 to December 20, passengers who buy 2 Business Class return tickets or 4 one-way Business Class tickets will get an exciting Philips product instantly. In the same vein, passengers who buy 5 Economy Class return tickets or 10 one-way Economy Class tickets will also be gifted a Philips product instantly,” disclosed Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air.

Hathiramani said that the offer is to appreciate guests who have made Dana Air their number one choice for air travel, and to encourage more Nigerians to fly ‘The Smartest Way’ this Christmas season. He said, “Christmas is a time of giving, and this offer is our ‘thank-you gift’ to our guests for their patronage and support all through the year. We also want to encourage more people to fly with us this season and experience our world-class in-flight services.”

With four Boeing MD83 aircrafts in its fleet, Dana Air currently operates twelve (12) flights daily on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route, four (4) flights daily on the Lagos-Port Harcourt-Lagos route, two (2) flights daily on the Lagos-Enugu-Lagos and Lagos-Kano-Lagos routes, and two (2) daily connecting flights between the cities of Abuja and Kano.

Dana Air’s vision is “To be recognised and respected as Nigeria’s most reliable and customer-friendly airline”, and her mission is “To earn the loyalty and respect of our customers by consistently demonstrating our commitment to service, and providing affordable regional air transport services that focus on innovation, quality and service excellence.”

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Airlines is Nigeria's first new world carrier,

offering premium services at an affordable rate.

Guests of Dana Air, Nigeria’s first new world carrier, are in for an exciting time as the airline unveils a special promo to mark its first year anniversary. The airline is offering ninety-nine (99) seats a day at N9, 000 for a one way ticket, for customers who book and pay for their tickets online at least 24hrs in advance, till November 10, 2009. Passengers also stand a chance to win fabulous gifts courtesy of the airline.

According to Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of the airline, “It seems like yesterday that Dana Air took to the skies and we would not be celebrating one year of successful flight operations but for the patronage we have enjoyed from our guests. Through this special anniversary promo, we want to appreciate the loyalty of our guests in the last twelve (12) months and re-state our commitment to the provision of safe, affordable, world-class air transport services.”

“We encourage all business and leisure travelers to any of our local destinations to take advantage of this special anniversary promo and purchase their one way ticket online for just N9, 000; Ninety-nine seats will be on offer daily, till November 10, 2009. Passengers who travel with us during this period can also win several exciting prizes including complimentary Dana Air tickets,” said Mr. Hathiramani.

Mr. Hathiramani also assured of the airline’s commitment to the highest safety standards. He said, “Dana Air places a high premium on safety and we will continuously invest in training of staff to ensure quality at every level of our operation. We also adhere strictly to the maintenance schedule of our aircrafts, as prescribed by the manufacturers and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Our fleet consists of four (4) Boeing MD83 aircrafts in dual configuration of 140 seats; 12 in our dedicated ‘Smart Class’ business cabin and 128 in our spacious ‘Traveller Class’ economy cabin.”

Dana Air commenced commercial flight operations on Monday, November 10, 2008 with its maiden flight from Lagos to Abuja. The airline currently operates twelve (12) flights daily on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route, two (2) flights daily on the Lagos-Enugu-Lagos, Lagos-Port Harcourt-Lagos and Lagos-Kano-Lagos routes, and two (2) daily connecting flights between the cities of Abuja and Kano. In its first eleven (11) months of operations, the airline has carried over 252,000 passengers, commanding a premium market share on the Lagos - Abuja - Lagos sector since inception.

Dana Air’s vision is “To be recognized and respected as Nigeria’s most reliable and customer-friendly airline”, and her mission is “To earn the loyalty and respect of our customers by consistently demonstrating our commitment to service, and providing affordable regional air transport services that focus on innovation, quality and service excellence.”

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Airlines is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

In commemoration of Nigeria’s independence, Dana Airlines Limited is offering more Nigerians the opportunity to fly to any of its local destinations for just N9, 000; from October 1 to October 9, more seats will be available at the current promo fare of N9000 for passengers who book and pay online at least 24hrs before the expected date of travel.

According to Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, “there can be no better way to celebrate Nigeria’s Independence than to offer more Nigerians the freedom to fly. With more seats available online for N9000, passengers can fly ‘The Smartest Way’ by booking and paying in advance for flights up till December 9, 2009; booking must be completed on or before October 27, 2009 when promo closes.”

In an earlier statement, Mr. Hathiramani had said that the N9000 fare promo was introduced to demonstrate the airline’s commitment to its passengers and to encourage more Nigerians to fly Dana Air. “With our reduced fare of N9, 000 and our online booking and payment system, more people will be able to fly with ease and experience the Dana Air hospitality,” he had noted.

With four Boeing MD83 aircrafts in its fleet, Dana Air currently operates twelve (12) flights daily on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route, two (2) flights daily on the Lagos-Enugu-Lagos, Lagos-Port Harcourt-Lagos and Lagos-Kano-Lagos routes, and two (2) daily connecting flights between the cities of Abuja and Kano.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Airlines is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

Dana Airlines Limited has announced that it will commence operations to the city of Port Harcourt in the week beginning September 14, 2009. This brings to five the total number of cities currently serviced by the airline within ten months of its operations; Abuja, Enugu, Kano and Lagos being the other cities.

“We are greatly delighted to extend our operations to Port Harcourt city”, said Jacky Hathiramani, an elated Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air. “We feel very proud that within ten (10) months of operations we have been able to bring our world class services to five (5) major destinations across the country, and we look forward to expanding our operations even further, covering more local and regional destinations.”

Mr. Hathiramani said that the airline which currently operates 18 daily flights on all routes will operate a return flight to Port Harcourt daily, from its operational base at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), Lagos. In his words, “From September 14, 2009, we will operate one daily flight to Port Harcourt at 10:35hrs, with a return flight at 12:15hrs; flight frequencies on the route will be increased with time.”

Dana Air’s vision is ‘to be recognized and respected as Nigeria’s most reliable and customer-friendly airline’, and this, says Mr. Hathiramani, “we will achieve by consistently demonstrating our commitment to service, and providing affordable regional air transport services that focus on innovation, quality and service excellence.”

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Airlines is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

Dana Airlines Limited, on Friday, took delivery of another Boeing MD83 aircraft bringing to four the total number of aircrafts in its fleet. The 140-seater capacity aircraft was received by officials of the airline at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at 13:14hrs.

“We are delighted to add yet another aircraft to our fleet”, said Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of the airline. “With this new aircraft we will now be able to add additional flights on all routes and also extend our operations to other cities. At the moment, we operate 11 flights daily on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos sector; 2 flights daily on Lagos-Enugu-Lagos sector; and 2 flights daily on the Lagos-Kano-Lagos sector, with daily connecting flights between Abuja and Kano. In a couple of weeks, we will commence operations to the city of Port-Harcourt.”

Mr. Hathiramani also assured passengers of the airline’s commitment to the highest safety standards. In an earlier statement, Mr. Hathiramani had said, “Dana Air has a technical partnership with Iberia and we adhere strictly to the maintenance schedule for our aircrafts as prescribed by the manufacturers and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. More detailed and scheduled checks are, however, carried out at the Iberia aircrafts maintenance facility in Madrid, Spain.”

Commenting on the airline’s offering for the Ramadan season, Mr. Hathiramani said, “Ramadan is one of the two major religious observances for our Muslim brethren. In acknowledgment of the holy month of fasting, Dana Air will be offering all Muslim passengers their in-flight meals in take-away packages made specifically for the season. This way, they can observe the daytime fasting and keep their meal until they are ready to break their fast.”

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Airlines is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

Dana Airlines Limited is set to take delivery of another Boeing MD83 aircraft, bringing to four the total number of aircrafts in its fleet. The airline has also announced that it would commence direct flights from Lagos to Kano with return flights via Abuja in a few weeks.

In the words of Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, “Starting August 17, 2009, business and leisure travelers to the city of Kano will be able to experience the Dana Air hospitality as we extend our operations to the city of commerce. We will offer direct flights from Lagos to Kano and connect the city of Kano to Abuja on the return leg. Also, in a few days, we will take delivery of another Boeing MD83 aircraft to boost operations across all routes.”

Only recently, Dana Air introduced a sixth flight from Lagos to Abuja and added a second flight on the Enugu-Lagos route. “With the addition of another Boeing MD83 aircraft to our fleet, we will be able to further increase our flight frequency on all our routes, to meet the growing demand of our customers. We are also looking at extending our operations to the city of Port-Harcourt sooner than later”, hinted Mr. Hathiramani.

On maintenance of aircrafts in its fleet, Mr. Hathiramani said, “Dana Air has a technical partnership with Iberia and we adhere strictly to the maintenance schedule for our aircrafts as prescribed by the manufacturers and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. More detailed and scheduled checks are, however, carried out at the Iberia aircrafts maintenance facility in Madrid, Spain.”

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Airlines is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

Dana Airlines Limited has launched a new promo in which passengers can pay as low as N9, 000 for a one way ticket to any of its routes. The airline currently operates daily flights to Enugu, Lagos and Abuja, and is set to extend its operations to Kano in the week commencing August 18, 2009.

According to Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of the airline, “From 9th August to 9th September passengers can enjoy our reduced fare of N9, 000 only if they book and pay for their tickets online, at least 24hrs before the expected date of departure. Seats will also be open until December 9, 2009 for every complete booking made within the period of the promo.”

Mr. Hathiramani disclosed that the promo is to further demonstrate Dana Air’s commitment to its passengers and to encourage more Nigerians to fly ‘The Smartest Way’ on Dana Air. “With our reduced fare of N9, 000 and our online booking and payment system, more people will be able to fly with ease and experience the Dana Air hospitality,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Dana Airlines Limited is set to take delivery of another Boeing MD83 aircraft bringing to four the total number of aircrafts in its fleet. In an earlier press statement Mr. Hathiramani had said, “With the addition of another Boeing MD83 aircraft to our fleet, we will be able to further increase our flight frequency on all our routes, to meet the growing demand of our customers.”

Only recently, Dana Air introduced a sixth flight from Lagos to Abuja and added a second flight on the Enugu-Lagos route. In addition to beginning direct Lagos-Kano flights in a few days, the airline is also looking at extending its operations to Port-Harcourt city by September this year.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Airlines is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

As a mark of its commitment to the growth and development of the country, Nigeria’s first new world carrier, Dana Airlines Limited, is partnering with Rise Networks on this year’s edition of the National Interactive Youth Forum. The annual event comprises a series of youth empowerment seminars across several states of the federation, and Dana Air is the official airline sponsor for the Abuja and Enugu events holding on July 18 and October 24 respectively.

According to Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, “We are pleased to partner with Rise Networks towards empowering the youths of this great country. No nation can achieve sustainable growth and development without the active participation of its youth population, and the boom we are experiencing in the Nigerian telecoms industry today is an attestation to this fact.”

“At Dana Air, we will continue to support initiatives like the National Interactive Youth Forum which are aimed at building a generation of responsible leaders and worthy role models who will make a difference in our nation”, added Mr. Hathiramani.

Toyosi Akerele, Youth Development Strategist, Rise Interactive, expressed appreciation to the management of Dana Air for supporting this year’s seminars. “This gesture goes to show that Dana Air is a responsible corporate citizen with a genuine concern for the development of young people, and the nation at large”, Ms. Akerele remarked.

The National Interactive Youth Forum is packaged annually by Rise Networks to stir confidence and encourage youths to be the best that they can be. The forum brings young people from diverse sectors together to take part in thought provoking lectures delivered by great achievers.

This year’s forum tagged ‘Dare to be Different’ kicked off in Lagos on June 20 and is expected to hold in various cities across Nigeria between the months of July and October 2009. The cities include Owerri, Enugu, Benin, Kaduna, Abeokuta, Ibadan and Abuja.

Dana Air, Nigeria’s first new world carrier, has announced the opening of a new sales office at the General Aviation Terminal (G.A.T.), Murtala Muhammad Airport, Ikeja, Lagos to make air tickets more accessible for its growing customers. The airline will also commence direct flights from the capital city of Abuja to Enugu coal city on Friday, July 10, 2009.

Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Jacky Hathiramani who disclosed this to aviation correspondents said that with the opening of the new sales office at the G.A.T. passengers who travel through the old domestic terminal can now purchase their Dana Air tickets without having to go to the airline’s operational base at Murtala Muhammad Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2). “As we extend our operations to more cities across the federation, we will operate some of our flights from the G.A.T.”, Mr. Hathiramani hinted.

As part of its on-going efforts to make tickets purchase easier and more convenient for its customers, the airline has also recently appointed well known travel agents in Victoria Island and Ikoyi area of Lagos, and is looking at expanding its sales outlets in Abuja, Enugu, Kano and Port-Harcourt soon.

On the commencement of direct flights from Abuja to Enugu, Mr. Hathiramani said “Dana Air is committed to offering Nigerians safe, convenient and affordable air transport services to major destinations across the country. As we begin direct flights between the cities of Abuja and Enugu on July 10, 2009, we assure our customers of the same world class service that Dana Air has become known for on other domestic routes. We also plan to begin flights from Lagos to Kano in the next couple of weeks, and Lagos to Port-Harcourt shortly afterwards.”

Since commencing commercial flight operations on November 10, 2008, Dana Air has become the toast of air travellers in Nigeria with an award for ‘Best ICT-Driven Airline 2009’ to its credit. According to Mr. Hathiramani, “We have been able to make a huge impact within few months of operations because we have a passion for excellence and are always willing to go the extra mile for our passengers. We will continue to ensure the highest standards of safety and service in every area of our operation.”

Only recently, Dana Air introduced a promo in which passengers will be entitled to one free ticket after flying with the airline nine (9) times on any of its routes, economy or business class. In the words of Mr. Hathiramani, “The gesture is a way of expressing appreciation for customers’ loyalty and trust in our operations. We will continue to introduce products that will encourage our passengers to always fly ‘The Smartest Way’ with Dana Air.”

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Airlines is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

Guests and participants at the 2009 Abuja Motor Show holding at the Eagle Square, Abuja from May 13 to 21, 2009 will enjoy rebates on air tickets courtesy of Dana Airlines Limited. The airline was recently named official airline partner for this year’s auto fair by the event organisers, BKG Exhibitions.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air said, “The Abuja Motor Show is one of the biggest auto fairs in Africa and we are pleased to partner with the organisers to convey participants to and from this year’s event. At Dana Air, we consider our customers as guests and we are always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that they have a pleasurable flying experience with us.”

On his part, Mr. Ifeanyi Agwu, Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions thanked the management of Dana Air for supporting this year’s event. According to him, “This is the first time we will be having an official carrier for any of our motor shows and it represents progress for us. The partnership with Dana Air will surely make it easier for our exhibitors and guests to participate in this year’s fair.”

Mr. Agwu also said that BKG Exhibition has entered into a number of strategic partnerships to ensure that the 2009 Abuja Motor Show is a success. “Apart from the major auto distributors and dealers, some of Nigeria’s leading banks have signed on to this year’s event and will be showcasing different financial products that will benefit participants.”

The Abuja International Auto Fair is an annual event which brings together local and international vehicle manufacturers and distributors. This year’s fair tagged ‘Driving Technology’ is expected to draw more than 500,000 visitors, 500 local and international journalists, and attract over 300 auto brands throughout the industry.

Nigeria’s newest carrier, Dana Air, has commenced operations to the coal city of Enugu with an introductory fare of N13, 500, the lowest for a one-way ticket on the Lagos-Enugu-Lagos route.

The airline had its first commercial flight to Enugu on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 14:40hrs and organized a media launch with aviation journalists on Friday, May 1, 2009. According to Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, “We are delighted to commence scheduled operations to Enugu few weeks after we announced our plans in the media. We have taken time to ensure that all necessary infrastructure and personnel are in place, for a seamless operation.”

“We can assure business and leisure travelers to the coal city that we will offer them the best quality air transport services at the most attractive fares; our introductory fare of N13, 500 for a one way ticket is the lowest on the Lagos-Enugu-Lagos route”, Mr. Hathiramani added.

At present, Dana Air operates one flight daily to Enugu from its operational base at MMA2 Lagos at 14:40hrs, with a return flight at 16:20hrs. Mr. Tony Usidamen, Communications Manager for the airline, however disclosed that the flight frequency will increase in the next couple of weeks.

Since commencing operations in November 2008, Dana Air has grown to become a force to reckon with in Nigeria’s fledging aviation industry. The airline currently operates 10 flights daily on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route and, like Enugu, it plans to extend its operations to the cities of Kano and Port-Harcourt in the next couple of months.

Only recently, Dana Air was awarded ‘Best ICT-Driven Airline 2009’ at the Nigeria ICT Merit Award (NIMA) for its early deployment of ICT solutions in its operations, particularly its online booking and payment service.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Airlines is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

Dana Air, Nigeria’s newest carrier, has been named the Best ICT-Driven Airline of the year at the National ICT Merit Award (NIMA) held at the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites on Thursday, April 9, 2009. NIMA is an annual ICT award organised by Technology Africa in recognition of individuals and organisations that are at the forefront of technology deployment and adoption in the country.

According to Mr. Don Pedro Aganbi, Managing Consultant of Technology Africa, "Dana Air was chosen as the recipient of the Best ICT Driven Airline award, despite being a new entrant in the aviation industry, because of its early deployment of ICT solutions. The introduction of e-booking and payment services by the airline is proof of the airline's commitment to passenger convenience and comfort, and deserves to be complimented."

The Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, acknowledged the award as ‘humbling, especially being a new airline in the country.’ He re-iterated the airline's commitment to the provision of world-class air transport services to Nigerians and assured that the airline would continue to explore new and exciting ways of making its passengers flying experience more pleasurable, deploying the latest technologies.

Dana Air had its inaugural flight on November 10, 2008 and the recent award coincides with the completion of its 150 days of scheduled flight operations. The airline currently operates 10 flights daily on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route and is set to commence operations on the Lagos-Enugu-Lagos route. Plans are also in top gear to extend operations to the cities of Kano and Port-Harcourt.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Airlines is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

Business and Leisure travelers to the coal city of Enugu now have the choice of flying smart with Dana Air as the airline commences operations on the Lagos–Enugu route next week. The airline also recently took delivery of another Boeing MD83 aircraft increasing its fleet size from two to three, with a fourth expected within this quarter.

Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of the airline, who made the announcement, said that Dana Air was committed to turning the flying aspirations of Nigerians into reality with a service offering comparable only to the best airlines in the world.

According to Mr. Hathiramani, “From the week beginning Monday, March 9, 2009, passengers flying to Enugu for business

or pleasure will be able to enjoy our world-class in-flight service and experience greater convenience through our online booking and payment system.”

Commenting further, Mr. Hathiramani said, “We have put all necessary infrastructure in place and have concluded recruitment

and training of our Enugu staff. We are now ready to deliver to our Enugu-bound passengers the same high quality air transport

service that has become synonymous with Dana Air.”

At present, Dana Air operates eight flights daily on the Lagos–Abuja–Lagos route. Apart from Enugu, the airline also intends to

extend its operations to the cities of Kano and Port-Harcourt in the next couple of months.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Airlines is Nigeria's first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate.

Dana Air, Nigeria’s newest carrier, has adjusted its weekend flights on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route as part of operational appreciation and demands.

Speaking at a media interactive forum organized by the airline recently, Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, explained that the weekend flights have been adjusted to 10:35hrs and 15:30hrs on the Lagos-Abuja leg, and 13:05hrs and 18:00hrs on the Abuja-Lagos leg. He however noted that the weekday flight schedule remains the same; 07:20hrs and 15:30hrs on the Lagos-Abuja leg, and 11:25hrs and 18:00hrs.

According to him, “The adjustment is in response to the demands of our growing customers who prefer that period of the day to travel in and out of our operational base. At Dana Air, we value our customers and we will continue to look at new and exciting ways to make their flying experience more pleasurable.”

Dana Air began scheduled operations on Monday November 10, 2008 following the award of its Air Operating Certificate (AOC) by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority with two daily flights from Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) in Lagos to the capital city of Abuja with return flights. In December 2008, the airline took delivery of a third MD83 aircraft in Miami, Florida, United States of America.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air strives to be Nigeria’s first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate. It will provide passenger, cargo and charter services between capital cities and regional centres.

Nigeria’s newest carrier, Dana Airlines Limited, today announced that it will begin commercial flight operations on Monday, November 10, 2008, following the award of its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities on Wednesday.

The AOC is a commercial licence or an official document issued to an airline by its national safety regulator. It attests to the airline's competence regarding its ability to conduct a safe operation and clearly defines who is in charge of its safety oversight (normally the national aviation authority). It therefore constitutes the key link to safety oversight.

According to Dana Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Jacky Hathiramani, “We will begin operations on Monday, November 10 with two flights daily from Lagos to Abuja and from Abuja to Lagos. Passengers can look forward to a more pleasurable experience flying with us; from our easy and convenient online booking system to our superior in-flight services.”

Mr. Hathiramani also said, “Our fleet currently consists of two Boeing MD83 aircrafts which have a higher number of passenger seats and a larger cargo capacity than currently available. We will offer a two class service, with 12 seats in our dedicated “Smart Class” business cabin, and 128 seats in our spacious Traveller class economy cabin. Before the end of the year we will take delivery of two more Boeing MD83 aircrafts. We will also be expanding our route to include the cities of Port-Harcourt, Enugu and Kano.”

Last month Dana Air announced that it had completed a series of training programmes for staff including engineers, station managers, flight dispatchers, ticketing and reservation officers and cabin crew. Mr. Hathiramani however noted that training at Dana Air will be an on-going process; another batch of twenty-five cabin crew are currently undergoing training and two of its four Nigerian ‘First Officers’ departed Lagos for the United States of America for a five-week training course last Saturday.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air strives to be Nigeria’s first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate. It will provide passenger, cargo and charter services between capital cities and regional centres.

Nigeria’s newest carrier, Dana Airlines Limited, is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that Nigerian travellers get world-class and affordable air transport services as it gets set to commence flight operations. Two of its four Nigerian ‘First Officers’ departed Lagos for the United States of America last Saturday for a 5 – week training course, with the other two to follow in November.

Like their 10 expert colleagues who recently returned from the same training course in Miami, Florida, the Nigerian First Officers will undergo a full fledged MD83 pilots training programme including ground school training, simulated trainings, as well as training in Crew Resource Management (CRM), dangerous goods handling (HAZMAT) and Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM).

According to Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, “The operational word in airline business is safety and, while every staff has a role to play in this regard, it is the pilot’s primary responsibility. At Dana Air we will always encourage and support our pilots through continuous investment in training, so that they may maintain the highest standards of safety, at all times.”

Mr. Hathiramani also said, “With two of our Nigerian pilots off to Miami for training, and another two to follow in November, our plan of developing the capacity of indigenous pilots has taken off. In the next couple of months, we will employ more young Nigerian First Officers to join our experienced team of pilots.”

On when Dana Air will officially commence flight operations, Mr. Hathiramani said, “We know that Nigerians are anxious to see us fly and we assure them that we will commence operations very soon. We are working closely with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority in a process that will see the emergence of an airline that Nigerians and the whole of Africa will be proud of.”

Just last month Dana Air announced that it had completed a series of training programmes for staff including engineers, station managers, flight dispatchers, ticketing and reservation officers and cabin crew. Mr. Hathiramani however noted that training at Dana Air will be an on-going process; another batch of 25 cabin crew are currently undergoing training.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air strives to be Nigeria’s first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate. It will provide passenger, cargo and charter services between capital cities and regional centres.

In preparation for commencement of operations, Dana Airlines Limited, Nigeria’s newest airline, is investing heavily in the training and re-training of its staff. This is in line with its mission of providing reliable, sustainable and high quality services to the travelling public.

According to Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, “We are committed to delivering the highest quality of service onboard our aircrafts and we are making huge investments in staff training in readiness for operations. To maintain quality at all level of operations, we have ensured that every cadre of staff is involved in continuous training and re-training programmes. I have also participated in a Boeing Airline Planning Workshop in Seattle recently.”

So far, ten pilots including one flight inspector from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have completed a full fledged MD83 pilots training course in Miami, USA. This included ground school training, check rides and MD83 type ratings. The company has also recruited four fresh Nigerian First Officers who will proceed on the same MD83 Pilots training in a few days.

Six engineers, including one from NCAA, have completed a 3-week course on MD80 line maintenance at the Iberia training facility in Madrid, Spain, and seven station managers have been trained on dangerous goods handling and cargo handling procedures. Five flight dispatchers also attended a 3-week training course handled by instructors from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria at the FAAN training school in Lagos.

A team of expert trainers from the UK have conducted an extensive training (initial and conversion course) for 25 cabin crew members while 21 ticketing and reservation officers were trained by a European Global Distribution System company on the latest ticketing and reservation software ready for roll-out.

It will be recalled that Dana Airlines took delivery of its second Boeing MD83 aircraft a few weeks ago, with two more aircrafts expected to join its fleet in November 2008 and another two in the first quarter of 2009. With the processing of its Airline Operator Certificate with the NCAA in its penultimate stages, Dana Air is set to take to the skies.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air strives to be Nigeria’s first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate. It will provide passenger, cargo and charter services between capital cities and regional centres.

Dana Air, the recently licensed domestic airline operator, has chosen the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company PLC (NAHC0) to provide a wide range of specialized ground handling services for its operations on the Lagos-Abuja route. The representatives of the two companies have signed an agreement to this effect in Lagos.

Dana Air will operate 24 flights a week into and out of Abuja; four flights daily from Monday to Friday, and two flights on Saturdays and Sundays, using its new two MD83 aircraft. NAHCo will provide ramp services (aircraft handling operations) for these flights which will commence in September 2008.

Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, Managing Director of Dana Air said having inspected NAHCo’s equipment and reviewed its operations, Dana Air is satisfied with doing business with NAHCo. He said NAHCo’s reputation as Nigeria’s leading ground handling company fits into Dana Air’s ambition of becoming one of Nigeria’s leading airlines within the shortest possible time.

Commenting on the new partnership, Demola Akinbola, NAHCo’s Head of Corporate Communication and Business Development, noted that Dana is a well established and respected brand in Nigeria. According to him, NAHCo and Dana Air will work together to offer passengers value for money.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air strives to be Nigeria’s first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate. It will provide passenger, cargo and charter services between capital cities and regional centres.

Nigeria’s new carrier, Dana Airlines yesterday received the United States International Partner award for its contribution toward increasing US presence and market share in Nigeria for 2006 and 2008.

Dana Airlines which recently took delivery of two MD83 aircraft from Boeing Aircraft Manufactures in the United States was described by the Commercial Councilor of the United States Embassy, Mr. Larry Farris who handed over the award to the managing director of the airline, Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, as demonstrating special creativity in improving trade between Nigeria and the United States.

According to him, ‘the United States will continue to see Nigeria as a strategic partner in development and growth of both countries economy. “The awards are for companies that have demonstrated special creativity, resourcefulness and hard work in improving trade between Nigeria and the United States of America and we will continue to recognise these contributions regularly,” he stated.

In his response, the managing director of Dana Airlines, Mr. Hathiramani said, “we are truly motivated by this award coming at this time of our airline and we express appreciation to the United States Commercial Service for this honour done to us. It only tells us that much is expected from us and a standard that we cannot go below has already been set with this.”

According to Mr. Hathiramani, “We are expecting two additional aircrafts before the end of the year to expand our routes to include Port Harcourt and Kano. We shall be launching the Lagos-Abuja route soon.” He added, “We are already in discussions with Boeing to order brand new aircrafts, and by the end of 2009 we plan to have a total of 9 aircrafts serving key destinations throughout the country and to regional locations.”

Dana Airlines will soon take delivery of a brand new Bombardier Learjet 45XR from the facility in Wichita Kansas, USA. With the delivery of the new Learjet, the airline will launch its Charter Operations division, an offering to discerning executives who travel for urgent meetings at short notice.

On the business jet front, the New World Carrier has placed orders for brand new Embraer and Bombardier business jets scheduled for delivery between 2009 and 2011. Also enlisted are 2 Phenom 100, 1 Phenom 300 very light Jets from Embraer and one Challenger 605, a mid-size jet from Bombardier stable.

A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air strives to be Nigeria’s first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate. It will provide passenger, cargo and charter services between capital cities and regional centres.

Speech delivered by Jacky Hathiramani, CEO Dana Airlines Limited, at the media launch and unveiling of Dana Air on 08-08-08.

Today, we unveil our long-standing passion and commitment to service; today we unveil to Nigerians, our commitment to deliver the best of world-class air safety, in-flight service, and customer-satisfaction. But before I go any further, I would like to respectfully recognize and appreciate, the Director General NCAA, Dr. Demuren. Also, we would like to welcome the Managing Directors of FAAN, NAMA and Diamond Bank. We welcome our very important partners: Boeing and Iberia, whose representatives flew in last night to be here with us today.

We also have with us, the leading media houses and aviation journalists whom we are most happy to welcome in our midst.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome! Welcome to the launch of Nigeria’s newest airline! Welcome to DANA Air! Welcome to “The Smartest Way to Fly”

On this very auspicious day, we wish to announce OUR plans to give Nigerians a totally innovative and refreshing, customer-oriented flying experience, which will offer premium services at the best value.

Part of our initial steps involved creating a very robust business plan with the assistance of top aviation consultants from across the world. Along with the help of Boeing, our plan aided us to shortlist the type of aircraft to fly domestically and on West African routes.

The results of our business planning, along with the ever changing aviation industry, demonstrates there is a call for new airlines – and Dana Air will play an important part here. Our dream is now coming true and we thank the Lord for creating this opportunity.

Our Vision is to “be recognised and respected as Nigeria’s most reliable and customer friendly airline”, and this we will achieve with a mission to persistently provide high levels of customer satisfaction throughout our route network, by remaining competitive, reliable, innovative and passionate about our service.

From the moment the concept was created by our Group Chairman in 2005, we have aspired to be an airline of choice for the travelling public, and our team of aviators share our passion to fly and serve. We are fully aware and understand the magnitude of what we are taking onboard and are determined to take up the challenge and empower our people to turn these aspirations into reality.

Our smart, confident and determined personnel have been recruited for their passion to succeed and to offer the Nigerian public a better choice. We are committed to investing in training so that we may offer the highest levels of safety and service at all times.

Our fleet comprises Boeing MD83 aircrafts. We are putting into service these Boeing aircrafts so as to offer the right product for today’s air traveller with a higher number of passenger seats and a larger cargo capacity than currently available. The airline will offer a two class service, with 12 seats in our dedicated “Smart Class” business cabin, and 128 seats in our spacious Traveller class economy cabin.

With Dana Air, passengers will experience convenience through online booking facilities, make use of the new and comfortable surroundings at the MMA2 Terminal in Lagos, and will be able to enjoy our superior in-flight service whilst relaxing in plush leather seats in both business and economy classes.

Our operations will launch serving the crucial Lagos – Abuja route by offering a shuttle service from inception. With our first passenger aircraft on the ground today, and the second one expected to arrive within the next two weeks. The last quarter of this year will see the entry into service of two more Boeing aircrafts. At that time we plan to add to our routes the cities of Kano and Port Harcourt, we will be strategically positioned to uphold our mission and our promise to deliver.

We are already in discussions with Boeing to order brand new aircrafts, and by the end of 2009 we plan to have a total of 9 aircrafts serving key destinations throughout the country and to regional locations.

Complimentary to our passenger services we will also be launching in the very near future our premium VIP charter service – Dana Jets. We have already taken delivery of a brand new Bombardier Learjet, a business jet with capacity for 9 passengers and have also placed further orders for larger brand new business jets for delivery at the end of next year.

We are positioning not just to be another airline but one to make a difference. We are determined to constantly improve our services to our passengers. We are committed to the development of the aviation industry. We will embrace economic growth and promote tourism, and most importantly we will offer our passengers a superior level of service, consistent safety and a simplified flying experience. We are resourced with a team of dedicated professionals with the passion to succeed by working together to offer what we believe is “The Smartest Way to Fly”.

I would like to thank my family especially my wife, Amisha, for their undivided support. To everyone present here today, thank you for coming. By the special Grace of God I look forward to personally serving you onboard our aircrafts in the very near future.