The Edo State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Express Airline and KDN Aero as part of efforts to establish a state-owned carrier, Edo Air.
Governor Monday Okpebholo announced the agreement in a post on X on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, describing it as a significant step towards bringing the proposed airline to life.
According to the governor, Edo Air is intended to do more than provide air transport. The project is expected to create jobs, stimulate tourism, attract investment, expand business opportunities and improve access to air travel for residents.
“I am excited to announce that today we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Express Airline and KDN Aero, marking a significant step towards establishing Edo Air, our proposed state-owned airline,” Okpebholo said.
He added that the airline would strengthen connectivity and open up new economic opportunities for the state.
However, the government has not disclosed the proposed launch date, fleet size, route network, ownership structure or financial commitments of the partners.
The MoU follows a fact-finding visit to China by a seven-member Edo State delegation on September 14, 2026, to identify potential technical and operational partners for the proposed airline.
The delegation was led by Umar Musa Ikhilor, the Secretary to the State Government, and included Dr Anthony Okungbowa, the Head of Service; Julius Anelu, Accountant-General; and Captain Nuhu Musa, the state’s Chief Aviation Consultant.
During the visit, the officials inspected China Express Airline and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the country’s major aircraft manufacturer, to assess their capabilities and explore areas of cooperation.
Ikhilor said China Express made a strong impression on the delegation, which toured its flight-monitoring operations and observed a system tracking flights across China. The report said 192 flights had been recorded by 10 a.m. on the day of the inspection.
The governor also expressed confidence in the airline’s operational capacity and indicated that Edo Air could begin operations soon.
At the MoU signing, a representative identified as Li presented Okpebholo with a model aircraft, while KDN Aero Managing Director, Tianzhi Chen, outlined his company’s operations and capabilities.
