Med-View Airline (Kano) has announced it has added its first B777 jet to its own Air Operator's Certificate (AOC).
In a statement to the Lagos Stock Exchange, the privately-owned carrier said it had added an ex-VIM Airlines B777-200(ER), VP-BDQ (msn 28529), to the local register as 5N-BVY. On lease from Avmax Aircraft Leasing, it will be used to conduct Hajj charter flights from each of Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Maiduguri, Ilorin, and Port Harcourt Awolowo to Saudi Arabia beginning this week.
"The aircraft will also be utilized for the existing international routes and readily available for our planned route expansion program," it said. "It should also be noted that some aircraft in the Company's fleet (a B737-500 and a B767-300(ER)), which are on scheduled maintenance and cabin reconfiguration, are still being expected[sic]."
The aircraft seats 323 passengers with 38 in business class.
Med-View has operated B777 equipment in the past albeit as part of a wet-lease agreement with Portugal's euroAtlantic Airways (YU, Lisbon). Its fleet currently consists of two B737-400s which it uses to connect Abuja, Lagos, Maiduguri, and Yola.
