BENIN CITY, Nigeria — The Edo State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China Express Airline and KDN Aero to help establish its proposed state-owned airline, Edo Air.
Governor Monday Okpebholo announced the agreement in a post on X on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. He described it as an important step towards setting up the carrier. He said Edo Air would create jobs, support tourism, attract investment, expand business opportunities and improve air access for residents. He also said the airline would strengthen connectivity and open new economic opportunities for the state.
The announcement did not disclose the proposed airline’s launch date, fleet size, route network, ownership structure or the financial commitments of its partners.
The agreement followed a fact-finding visit to China by a seven-member Edo State delegation on September 14, 2026, to identify possible technical and operational partners for the airline, according to a report. The delegation was led by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, and included the Head of Service, Doctor Anthony Okungbowa, the Accountant-General, Julius Anelu, and the state’s Chief Aviation Consultant, Captain Nuhu Musa.
During the visit, officials inspected China Express Airline and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the country’s main aircraft manufacturer, to assess their capabilities. Ikhilor said China Express made a stronger impression on the delegation, which toured its flight-monitoring operations. At the signing, the governor was presented with a model aircraft, and KDN Aero’s Managing Director, Tianzhi Chen, presented the company’s operations and capabilities.
The governor described the airline’s operational capacity as impressive and indicated that the carrier could begin operations soon. The report does not say what that timeline is based on.
Edo’s proposal follows similar state initiatives. Akwa Ibom launched Ibom Air in 2019, connecting Uyo with domestic destinations including Lagos, Abuja, Calabar and Enugu, and with Accra in Ghana on its regional route. Cross River State followed in 2021 with Cally Air, established through a partnership with private aviation operators. Its flight operations are managed by ValueJet, and the airline is pursuing a phased fleet expansion into early 2027. Enugu launched Enugu Air in July 2025, and Ebonyi State announced plans in August 2024 to establish an airline, initially proposing four aircraft.
