West African Airways Corporation

The West African Airways Corporation (WAAC) was a West African regional airline jointly owned and operated by the governments of Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

History

Based in Lagos, WAAC was established and began operating in 1948. It became known for offering discounted air fares and economy class seating, with a Lagos-Accra flight costing £4.38 and Lagos-Port Harcourt costing £5.00. [cite journal |last=Akpoghomeh |first=Osi |authorlink=Osi Akpoghomeh |title=The Development of Air Transportation in Nigeria |journal=Journal of Transport Geography |volume=7 |year=1999 |pages=136 ]

As the member states received their independence from colonial powers, they formed their own airlines: Ghana Airways, Sierra Leone Airways, and Gambia Air Shuttle. Eventually Nigeria was the only state participating in WAAC. cite web|url=http://www.scribd.com/doc/41908/The-Organizational-Ecology-of-Foundings-and-Failures-in-the-African-Airline-Industry-19332005|title=The Organizational Ecology of Foundings and Failures in the African Airline Industry, 1933-2005|author=Jeffrey Christopher Aguero|accessdate=2008-04-10] Thus, on September 30, 1958, WAAC was dissolved, only to have its assets and liabilities inherited by Nigeria Airways, which was formed on October 1, 1958.cite book |title= Nigeria Year Book 1962 |publisher= Daily Times of Nigeria |year= 1962|pages= p. 55]

Cities Served

*Tiko, Cameroon
*Banjul, The Gambia (then named Bathurst)
*Accra, Ghana
*Kumasi, Ghana
*Takoradi, Ghana
*Tamale, Ghana
*Abidjan, Ivory Coast
*Robertsfield, Liberia
*Benin City, Nigeria
*Calabar, Nigeria
*Enugu, Nigeria
*Gusau, Nigeria
*Ibadan, Nigeria
*Jos, Nigeria
*Kaduna, Nigeria
*Kano, Nigeria
*Lagos, Nigeria
*Maiduguri, Nigeria
*Makurdi, Nigeria
*Oshogbo, Nigeria
*Port Harcourt, Nigeria
*Sokoto, Nigeria
*Yola, Nigeria
*Zaria, Nigeria
*Dakar, Senegal
*Khartoum, Sudan

References