Sosoliso Airlines
Encyclopedia
Sosoliso Airlines was a scheduled, domestic, passenger airline
. For much of its existence it had its head office in Ikeja
, Lagos State
. Originally its head office was on the grounds of Enugu Airport in Enugu
.
, Fresh Air, Sosoliso Airlines, Albarka Air
, Chrome Air Service
, Dasab Airlines
and Space World Airline. The affected airlines would only fly when they satisfied the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority
(NCAA)’s criteria in terms of re-capitalization and thus be re-registered for operation.
, Port Harcourt, Owerri
, Abuja
and Lagos
. Reservations are possible.
According to its website, Sosoliso Airlines operates four aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-81
and three McDonnell Douglas DC-9
s.
DC-9 5N-BFD has been identified as the hull loss in the December 10, 2005 crash.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
. For much of its existence it had its head office in Ikeja
Ikeja
Ikeja is an outer-ring suburb of the city of Lagos and capital of Lagos State. It is also one of Nigeria's 774 Local Government Areas . The Murtala Mohammed International Airport is located there...
, Lagos State
Lagos State
Lagos State is an administrative division of Nigeria, located in the southwestern part of the country. The smallest in area of Nigeria's states, Lagos State is the most populous state in Nigeria and arguably the most economically important state of the country and west Africa, containing Lagos, the...
. Originally its head office was on the grounds of Enugu Airport in Enugu
Enugu
Enugu is the capital of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located in the southeastern area of Nigeria and is largely populated by members of the Igbo ethnic group. The city has a population of 722,664 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. The name Enugu is derived from the two Igbo words Enu Ugwu...
.
History
It was established in 1994 and started operations in July 2000. The Nigerian government set a deadline of 30 April 2007 for all airlines operating in the country to re-capitalise or be grounded, in an effort to ensure better services and safety. Seven airlines failed to meet the deadline and as a result would not be allowed fly in Nigeria’s airspace with effect from 30 April 2007. These were: ADC AirlinesADC Airlines
ADC Airlines was a Nigerian airline owned by Aviation Development Company plc and headquartered in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. It operated domestic scheduled services and regional charter flights. It had applied to be designated on international routes...
, Fresh Air, Sosoliso Airlines, Albarka Air
Albarka Air
Albarka Air was an airline based in Abuja, Nigeria. It operated scheduled and charter services within Nigeria and charters to other countries in central and west Africa...
, Chrome Air Service
Chrome Air Service
Chrome Air Service was an airline based in Lagos, Nigeria. It was established in 1990 and operated a charter service within Nigeria and to other points in West Africa.-Code data:*ICAO Code: CHO*Callsign: CHROME AIR-History:...
, Dasab Airlines
Dasab Airlines
Dasab Airlines was an airline based in Abuja, Nigeria.-Code data:*ICAO Code: DSQ*Callsign: DASAB AIR-History:The Nigerian government set a deadline of April 30, 2007 for all airlines operating in the country to re-capitalise or be grounded, in an effort to ensure better services and safety...
and Space World Airline. The affected airlines would only fly when they satisfied the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is the civil aviation authority of Nigeria. It has its head office on the grounds of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and its Lagos office is in Aviation House on the grounds of Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.The current Director...
(NCAA)’s criteria in terms of re-capitalization and thus be re-registered for operation.
Destinations
Sosoliso Airlines operated flights to EnuguEnugu
Enugu is the capital of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located in the southeastern area of Nigeria and is largely populated by members of the Igbo ethnic group. The city has a population of 722,664 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. The name Enugu is derived from the two Igbo words Enu Ugwu...
, Port Harcourt, Owerri
Owerri
Owerri is the capital of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of the Igboland. Owerri consists of three Local Govern Areas including Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West, it has an estimated population of about 400,000 as of 2006...
, Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
and Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
. Reservations are possible.
Fleet
As of August 2006 the Sosoliso Airlines fleet included :- 2 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30McDonnell Douglas DC-9The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
- 1 McDonnell Douglas MD-81McDonnell Douglas MD-80 / MD-90The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a family of twin-engine, short- to medium-range, single-aisle commercial jet airliners. The MD-80 series were lengthened and updated from the DC-9. The airliner family can seat from 130 up to 172 passengers depending on variant and seating configuration.The MD-80...
- 1 McDonnell Douglas MD-82McDonnell Douglas MD-80 / MD-90The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a family of twin-engine, short- to medium-range, single-aisle commercial jet airliners. The MD-80 series were lengthened and updated from the DC-9. The airliner family can seat from 130 up to 172 passengers depending on variant and seating configuration.The MD-80...
According to its website, Sosoliso Airlines operates four aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-81
McDonnell Douglas DC-9
The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
and three McDonnell Douglas DC-9
McDonnell Douglas DC-9
The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
s.
DC-9 5N-BFD has been identified as the hull loss in the December 10, 2005 crash.
Incidents and accidents
- On 10 December 2005, Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 was a scheduled flight between the Nigerian cities of Abuja and Port Harcourt .At about 14:08 local time on 10 December 2005, Flight 1145 from Abuja crash-landed on the runway at Port Harcourt International Airport. The plane, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 with 110...
from AbujaAbujaAbuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
to Port Harcourt crashed on landing with 110 people on board. 2 persons survived. Bimbo OdukoyaBimbo OdukoyaAbimbola Rosemary "Bimbo" Odukoya was a Nigerian pastor and televangelist who was married to the founder of the Fountain of Life Church, Taiwo Odukoya....
(A popular Christian speaker) and over 50 students of Loyola Jesuit CollegeLoyola Jesuit CollegeLoyola Jesuit College is a private Roman Catholic secondary school in Nigeria operated by the Society of Jesus religious order. The school was opened on October 2, 1996 and is named after the Society's founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola. Loyola Jesuit College is a co-educational, boarding institution...
, an Abuja-based secondary school, were among the dead. It is reported that a witness states that the plane was struck by lightning about 40 or 50 metres from touching down and the fuel in the wing caught fire and it exploded. This has not yet been confirmed by any authorities. Following the crash, president Olusegun Obasanjo ordered all Sosoliso planes grounded.
External links
- Sosoliso Airlines (Archive)
- Profile of the airline