News & events
DANA AIRLINES takes delivery of two Boeing MD 83 aircraft in the US.
Set to launch operations in Q3, 2008.
Nigeria’s first New World Carrier, Dana Airlines, this month, took delivery of two Boeing McDonnell Douglas 83 aircraft in California, USA, on May 2nd 2008. Currently, the modern aircraft is being serviced at the reputable Maintenance and Repair Organisation in Miami, USA to ensure it is delivered in perfect condition.
“Dana Airlines has orders for two more Boeing MD83’s which will be added to the fleet in the fourth quarter of 2008. The aircraft will offer a two-class service, 12 seats in Premium Class and 128 seats in Traveller Class. We look forward to introducing travellers to a rich flying experience that will change their world” according to Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, the Managing Director of Dana Group.
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 two Phenom 100, one Phenom 300 very light Jets from Embraer and one Challenger 605, a mid-size jet from Bombardier stable.
On the Maintenance front, the airline will be maintaining its fleet of Boeing MD83 aircraft at a European MRO, well established in maintaining Boeing MD80 aircraft. In this same facility, the airline’s team of engineers will be trained to handle basic checks here in Nigeria.
Presently in the Air Operator Certification process, Dana Airlines will complete the recruitment and training of its personnel soon and commence operations in the third quarter of the year from the newly commissioned MMA2 Terminal in Lagos.
Mr. Jacky Hathiramani also added, “Dana Airlines has commenced sending its pilots to the US for Simulator Training at an approved Flight Training Academy. We believe in constant re-training. That is why we are sending Key Operations staff to NCAT, Zaria for regular courses”.
The airline looks forward to expanding the fleet of four commercial aircraft in 2008 to ten aircraft in 2010 and also to building its own hangar space to accommodate the aircraft.
For a start, the airline will focus on the triangular routes of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, adding more routes with increase in fleet.
ABOUT DANA AIRLINES
Nigeria’s first New World Carrier, Dana Airlines is a part of the Dana Group of companies, a trusted conglomerate based in Nigeria since 1981. The Chairman of Dana Group is Mr. Ramesh Hathiramani. The Group has a large presence in variety of industries like Pharmaceuticals, Plastics, Automobiles, Chemicals, Electronics and Steel amongst others. The Group is known for its exceptional strength at understanding the emotional connections between consumers and products.
