Foreign carriers fly about nine out of every ten international passengers who leave or enter Nigeria, so the international airlines in Nigeria you pick decide your fare, your connections and often your visa paperwork. A few of them have been landing in Lagos for longer than Nigeria has been independent.
This list profiles ten airlines that matter most to Nigerian travellers, then covers the smaller carriers worth knowing and how to choose between them. It is a selection and not an official ranking.
The Top 10 at a Glance
| Airline | Home hub | Nigerian airports | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethiopian Airlines | Addis Ababa | Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu | Africa and Asia connections |
| Qatar Airways | Doha | Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt | Gulf, Asia and Australia |
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul | Lagos, Abuja, Kano | Europe and Asia via one hub |
| Emirates | Dubai | Lagos | Daily Gulf service |
| British Airways | London | Lagos, Abuja | Direct London |
| Virgin Atlantic | London | Lagos | Direct London, then North America |
| Air France and KLM | Paris, Amsterdam | Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt | Western Europe |
| Lufthansa | Frankfurt | Lagos, Abuja | Germany and onward Europe |
| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta | Lagos | Direct United States |
| Air Peace | Lagos | Lagos, Abuja | Nigerian-owned London flights |
Europe is the biggest international market, at about 38% of departing passengers. Travel inside Africa accounts for about 23%, and direct flights across the Atlantic make up about 18%. Roughly 4.85 million international passengers used Nigerian airports in the latest full year, up about 12%.
The 10 International Airlines in Nigeria, One by One
1. Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian was founded in December 1945 and has been a Star Alliance member for more than a decade. It serves more Nigerian airports than any other foreign carrier: Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Enugu, with Port Harcourt arriving from 1 December as its fifth Nigerian city on four weekly flights. A second daily Lagos flight lifted its Nigerian schedule to 31 weekly flights. Every trip runs through Addis Ababa, which makes it the natural choice for East and Southern Africa, India and China. Our guide to booking affordable flights within Africa shows how to use it for regional hops.
2. Qatar Airways
Qatar is the airline to look at when you live outside Lagos. It flies from Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt to Doha. When it added Kano and Port Harcourt, the flights ran four and three times a week through Abuja on a Boeing 787 with 22 business seats and 232 in economy, and the airline said Nigeria had become the African country where it serves the most gateways. A Doha connection reaches the Gulf, South and Southeast Asia, and Australia in a single ticket.
3. Turkish Airlines
Turkish flies from Lagos, Abuja and Kano to Istanbul, one of the busiest connecting hubs in the world. It is a favourite for Europe and Asia on a single booking, and for travellers who want a long daytime layover to see Istanbul before moving on. Check the entry rules before you leave the airport on a long layover, because a city visit can need a visa.
4. Emirates
Emirates serves Nigeria from Lagos only. It suspended its Nigerian flights for two years during a dispute over blocked airline funds, and daily service returned with a Boeing 777-300ER. If you are leaving from Lagos and want a connection through Dubai to India, Asia or Australia, it is the straightforward option.
5. British Airways
British Airways has the longest record of the group. Its predecessor, Imperial Airways, flew from London to Kano on 9 February 1936 and extended to Lagos in October that year, with a De Havilland biplane that needed seven days to reach Lagos and carried airmail instead of passengers. Today the airline flies from London Heathrow to Lagos and Abuja, and Heathrow is a gateway to a wide network across Europe and North America.
6. Virgin Atlantic
Virgin has flown between Lagos and Heathrow since 6 July 2001, when its first Lagos flight ran on a Boeing 747. It later moved to the Airbus A330-300 with Wi-Fi in every cabin, serves meals with Nigerian tastes in mind and shows Nollywood films on board. From Heathrow, passengers connect to Virgin’s North American cities including New York and Boston. Our guide to the Lagos to London flight price compares the nonstop airlines on that route.
7. Air France and KLM
Air France opened its first regular Lagos service on 20 July 1946, with a DC-4 that flew Paris to Lagos through Algiers, Kano and Brazzaville every two weeks and took more than 20 hours. Today it flies daily from Lagos to Paris on a Boeing 777-200 and three times a week from Abuja on an Airbus A350, while Port Harcourt flights run in cooperation with a regional partner. KLM, its Dutch sister, connects Lagos and Abuja to Amsterdam, and the pair together are the strongest choice for Western Europe and onward connections.
8. Lufthansa
Lufthansa flies from Lagos and Abuja to Frankfurt, and the Lagos flight continues to Malabo in Equatorial Guinea. Departures leave Nigeria in the evening and arrive in Frankfurt early the next morning, which lets passengers make onward flights in the same terminal. The airline has called Nigeria one of its key markets in Africa. It is the pick if you are headed to Germany, central Europe or a Star Alliance connection.
9. Delta Air Lines
Delta is the Nigerian traveller’s direct line to the United States. Its year-round route is Lagos to Atlanta, flown daily on an Airbus A330-200, and Atlanta connects to most American cities. A New York route has been started and cut more than once, so treat any flight to JFK as unreliable until you see it on a fresh timetable. United Airlines also flies from Lagos to Washington Dulles on a Boeing 787.
10. Air Peace
Air Peace is the Nigerian-owned challenger. It began flying from Lagos to London Gatwick on 30 March, using Gatwick’s Southern Terminal, after the UK denied it access to Heathrow. The Lagos service now runs seven times a week, Abuja to Gatwick three times a week, and the winter timetable adds Abuja to Heathrow three times a week. Its London flights use Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft, and it also flies to Accra, Abidjan, Dakar, Douala, Cotonou and other West African cities. Our Lagos airport terminal guide explains where each international airline checks in at Murtala Muhammed.
Other International Airlines Operating in Nigeria
Beyond the major international airlines in nigeria above, a second tier fills the gaps in the map. Lagos has the widest choice of international airlines in lagos nigeria, since every carrier on this page lands there.
- Kenya Airways flies to Nairobi.
- EgyptAir flies to Cairo.
- Royal Air Maroc flies to Casablanca, a useful stop for Europe and North America.
- RwandAir connects Lagos to Kigali, and Uganda Airlines connects to Entebbe.
- South African Airways flies to Johannesburg, and Air Tanzania to Dar es Salaam.
- TAAG Angola Airlines flies to Luanda.
- Air Côte d’Ivoire and ASKY serve Abidjan, Lomé, Douala, Kinshasa and Libreville.
- Middle East Airlines flies to Beirut, and Neos to Milan.
Schedules change through the year, so confirm a route with the airline before you book. If you search for all international airlines in nigeria, remember that some of these carriers serve Lagos only.
Choosing Among the International Airlines
No airline suits every trip, so decide what matters first: speed, price or a short list of airports.
Best International Airlines in Nigeria by Route
For a nonstop to London, the best international airlines in nigeria are British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Air Peace. For the Gulf and Asia, Qatar Airways flies from four Nigerian airports, which no other long-haul carrier matches. For Africa, Ethiopian has the widest network, and Turkish is the practical choice for Istanbul and beyond. Anyone living in Kano or Port Harcourt should start with Qatar before looking at Lagos.
Cheapest International Airlines in Nigeria
The cheapest international airlines in nigeria shift by route and date, but one pattern holds. One-stop itineraries through Addis Ababa, Doha, Istanbul or Casablanca usually cost less than nonstop flights and take longer. On Lagos to London, nonstop economy returns run from about ₦1.1 million on a Nigerian carrier to ₦2.5 million on a European one, while one-stop options can start from about ₦838,000 one way, at the cost of up to 17 hours in transit.
Taxes and Checks Before You Pay
Tickets that start in Nigeria carry heavy charges, so price every international flight in nigeria with taxes included. The global airline association puts the average taxes and charges on an international ticket from Nigeria at about $180, against about $68 across Africa, and that gap explains why a cheap online fare can rise at checkout.
- Check whether your connection needs a transit visa, because some European hubs ask for one from Nigerian passport holders.
- Match the name on the ticket to your passport exactly.
- Carry your yellow fever card if your route requires it.
- Keep a copy of the e-ticket on your phone and on paper.
- Allow a long gap between flights when you book two separate tickets, because a delay on the first leaves you unprotected on the second.
Frequently Asked Questions About International Airlines in Nigeria
How many foreign airlines fly to Nigeria?
About 20 foreign airlines operate roughly 200 weekly flights from Nigeria, and at least 11 of them serve more than one Nigerian airport.
Which foreign airline serves the most Nigerian airports?
Ethiopian Airlines, with Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Enugu now and Port Harcourt coming.
Which airlines fly out of Kano?
Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines are the foreign carriers that serve Kano.
Which airlines fly direct to the United States?
Delta flies from Lagos to Atlanta, and United flies from Lagos to Washington Dulles.
Picking the Airline That Fits
Start from your destination and your home airport, list the international airlines in Nigeria that serve both, then compare the total price, the travel time and the baggage allowance. A slightly higher nonstop fare often saves a night in a hotel, while a longer connection suits a tight budget. Whichever you choose, confirm your documents before you pay.
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