1. Okada Air, during the time of its operation, was one of the largest independent airlines in Africa.


2. It was established in 1983 with a fleet of BAC-One Eleven 300s and started charter operations in September of the same year.

3. In 1984, the airline acquired a Boeing 707-355C was for cargo operations.


4. By 1990, Okada airline acquired ten BAC One-Elevens were bought, and eight more were acquired in 1991.


5. Okada Airline was granted the right of operating international flights in 1992. At one point, it operated the Boeing 747-100 on ad-hoc charter flights across the globe, even across the Pacific Ocean. They also flew pilgrims to the Holy Lands every year.


6. The airline had a good safety record, and did attempt to provide a western style of service. However, on 26th June 1991, an Okada Air BAC
One-Eleven 402AP, registration 5N-AOW, force-landed 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) off Sokoto Airport due to fuel exhaustion. There were three fatalities, all of them passengers. The aircraft had been diverted from the original Benin City–Kano route because of bad weather at the airport of destination.


7. In 1997, the company “Okada Airline” folded up.


8.Some years later, the Okada Airline attempted a comeback. However, the Federal government, after an air crash had banned aircraft BAC 1-11. This made the comeback  impossible due to the fact that the airline had almost 20 BAC 1-11 in its fleet at the time the policy was instituted.


9. Okada Airline was based in Benin City, Nigeria.

10. The owner of Okada Air was Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin.

Esama, the Man who sent his son to liquidate Edo state for 8 years after his business began to crumble..

By now Benin would have been as mega as Lagos.. But greed won't allow Nigerians see road.. Chai

OP. You left out one thing. Okada airline was the first indigenous private airline in Nigeria.

Nice one.

When there so many flying beings in Edo/Benin that airline was bound to fail.... even the owner doesn't use it

Benin an great history...Nice one op

Until we embrace proper maintenance culture in this country, many things will crumble. Where's Nigerian Airways abi Airline

Hmmmmmm