Nigerian carrier ValueJet on Wednesday, August 5, took delivery of its first Boeing 737NG aircraft, registration number 5N-CFZ, marking the start of a planned fleet expansion that will see three Boeing 737NG aircraft join the airline over the coming months as it enters its next phase of growth across Nigeria, West Africa and beyond.

The acquisition is expected to increase the airline’s passenger and cargo capacity while supporting its long-term expansion strategy. The Boeing 737NG offers significantly more seats and greater range than the CRJ regional jets that have formed the backbone of ValueJet’s operations since commercial services began in 2022.

Since commencing operations, ValueJet has built a network spanning Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Calabar, Kano, Jos, Benin City, Accra, Banjul, Cotonou and Malabo. Earlier this year, the airline strengthened its regional footprint with the launch of daily Lagos–Accra services in March, followed by direct Accra–Banjul flights in May.

The larger aircraft is expected to support growing demand on key domestic routes, particularly Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, while creating additional room for future regional expansion.

Speaking on the development, ValueJet Managing Director, Omololu Majekodunmi, described the aircraft’s arrival as the beginning of a new chapter for the airline.

“The arrival of our first Boeing 737NG aircraft is an important milestone for ValueJet and the beginning of a new phase for the airline. It strengthens our ability to serve more passengers, accommodate more cargo and support our expansion across Nigeria and West Africa.

“Our focus has always been to build a safe, reliable and customer-focused airline. As we grow our fleet, we are making the necessary investments in our people, technical capability and operations to support that growth responsibly.”

Majekodunmi said the transition to Boeing aircraft is being supported by continued investment in manpower development and technical capability to ensure the airline is fully prepared for the next stage of its operations.

The aircraft is expected to enter commercial service in September, with the remaining two Boeing 737NG aircraft joining the fleet in phases over the coming months to provide additional capacity across existing routes and support ValueJet’s planned expansion into Libreville, Abidjan and other destinations across Anglophone and Francophone Africa.