Nigeria’s aviation sector continues to expand its global reach, with direct international connections linking the country to key destinations across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and now South America.
Currently, five major international airports — Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu — serve as Nigeria’s gateways to the world. Among them, Lagos and Abuja remain the busiest, handling most of the long-haul and intercontinental services.
African Connections
Nigeria maintains extensive air links across the continent, reflecting the country’s strong trade, diplomatic, and cultural ties within Africa. Direct flights operate to Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, and Uganda. These routes remain vital for regional business, intra-African tourism, and family visits.
Expanding into Asia
In Asia, Nigeria’s flight network covers Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. The Gulf routes are heavily patronised, serving business travellers, tourists, and labour migrants. Saudi services are especially critical during the annual Hajj and Umrah seasons.
Strong European Links
Nigeria also enjoys direct connectivity to Europe, with flights to France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. These routes remain among the busiest, catering to business executives, students, and the Nigerian diaspora.
North American Routes
From Lagos and Abuja, travellers can connect directly to the United States, with flights to Atlanta and New York. Notably, the Lagos–Atlanta service, stretching 5,835 miles and lasting nearly 12 hours, is Nigeria’s longest non-stop international route.
New Link to South America
As of August 2025, Nigeria’s international flight network spans 56 airports in 30 countries, serviced by 38 international and domestic airlines. Local operators such as Air Peace, Ibom Air, and United Nigeria Airlines compete alongside major carriers including Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, British Airways, and Emirates. Seasonal services also operate from 14 additional Nigerian airports, depending on passenger demand.
In a landmark development, Nigeria has signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Brazil during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brasília. The deal paves the way for a new Lagos–São Paulo service, to be launched by Air Peace, with LATAM Airlines expected to reciprocate. This route, last flown by VARIG in the 1970s and 1990s, will cut travel time between Nigeria and Brazil to just 10 hours.
With the addition of Brazil, Nigeria’s direct flight network now extends to 31 countries, bolstering its status as a regional aviation hub.
Full List of Countries with Direct Flights from Nigeria
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Lebanon
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- Niger
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Sierra Leone
- South Africa
- Togo
- Turkey
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- France
- Germany
- Brazil
