Dana Air (9J, Lagos) took delivery of its first Boeing aircraft, B737-300 5N-DNA (msn 28400), on September 13, 2019.
The aircraft was ferried directly from Naples Capodichino to Lagos, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows.
The carrier said in a press release that the 22-year-old ex-Southwest Airlines twinjet was the first step in Dana Air's network and fleet expansion plans.
"With our fleet size likely to hit nine soon, we are ready to give more 737-rated Nigerian pilots and engineers the opportunity to be gainfully employed. We would also deploy this B737 to strengthen our existing route network while new routes will be announced soon in line with our careful and methodical route and fleet expansion project," Chief Executive Officer Jacky Hathiramani said.
Initially, the airline plans to use the 143-seater B737 on its trunk domestic route between Lagos and Abuja. Going forward, it will consider launching new regional routes.
"On the return to our West Coast routes, we have that as a plan; maybe from 2020 upwards. But for now, we are concentrating on serving the Nigerian routes," Chief Operating Officer Obi Mbanuzuo told the media during the welcome ceremony.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, the airline will also take on another ex-Southwest B737-300, msn 27721 (to be 5N-DNB), which is undergoing maintenance at Naples airport. Its delivery is planned within the next few weeks.
Dana Air's fleet also includes one MD-82 and four MD-83s. The carrier is planning to eventually retire the McDonnell Douglas twinjets - which are 29.3 years old on average - as more B737s arrive, although no firm date has been set.
"As you know, some airlines fly the B747 due to their particular needs while others are phasing that aircraft out. For us, the MDs have been very good. We won’t give you a date for the phase-out now but for now we are still flying both aircraft types," Mbanuzuo said.
