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Aero Contractors (N2) Guide

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Aero flies from Murtala Muhammed International (LOS) to places such as Benin City and Kano. This guide covers that network, the Aero fleet and cabins, baggage, check-in and how to pay less. Ask a question
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In short

Aero Contractors is a Nigerian airline founded in 1959 and based at Murtala Muhammed International in Lagos. It flies Boeing 737 and Dash 8 aircraft on domestic routes within Nigeria and also provides helicopter and charter services for the oil and gas sector. Travellers moving between Nigerian cities are its main audience. It has no alliance membership.

Aero Contractors is a state-controlled Nigerian airline based at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Founded in 1959, it runs scheduled domestic flights as well as helicopter, charter and third-party aircraft operations, largely supporting Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Aero Contractors. Routes, schedules, fleet and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.

What to expect

Aero Contractors is a Nigerian airline based at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, and it suits travellers flying between Lagos and other Nigerian cities such as Abuja and Port Harcourt. It was formed in 1959 and registered in Nigeria in 1960, which makes it the country's oldest airline operator. It runs scheduled domestic passenger flights alongside helicopter and charter services. Ado Sanusi is chief executive.

The company began as a subsidiary of the Dutch firm Schreiner Airways. Nigerian investors took 40% in 1973 and 60% in 1976. CHC Helicopter bought Schreiner in 2004 and with it a 40% stake in Aero. Today the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) holds 60% and Ibru family interests the other 40%.

Aero Contractors works in two divisions. Aero Nigeria runs the scheduled passenger flights, and Rotary Wing flies helicopters for the oil and gas industry, with a technical partnership with CHC. The company also runs a maintenance business, Aero MRO, and a training school.

The airline sells scheduled flights through its own website, flyaero.com, which promotes routes such as Lagos to Abuja and Lagos to Port Harcourt. The network links Lagos with about nine Nigerian airports.

Key facts for travellers:

  • Type: a domestic Nigerian carrier with scheduled and charter operations.
  • Fleet: eight aircraft in August 2025: two Boeing 737-300s, one 737-400, three 737-500s, and one each of the De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 and Dash 8-400.
  • Alliance: Aero Contractors is not a member of a global airline alliance.
  • History of interruptions: scheduled flights stopped from 1 September 2016 during Nigeria's economic crisis and returned gradually from December 2016. In 2019 the airline flew 6,717 flights. Flights paused again in 2022 during a fuel shortage and resumed later that year.

Travel tip: domestic schedules in Nigeria can change at short notice, so book directly on the Aero Contractors website, keep your contact details up to date in the booking, and check your flight status on the day of travel. The website also lists deals and a flexible payment option, so read the conditions of any offer before paying, and confirm the baggage rules for your fare before you go to the airport.

Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change

Checked against trusted sources:
Aero official website

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  1. Aero official website
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Good to know

  • AllianceNone
  • Founded1959

Everything you should know

Airline codes

N2 · NIG

IATA · ICAO · callsign “AEROLINE”

Aero’s IATA code is N2, its ICAO code is NIG, and the radio callsign is AEROLINE. Type N2 and your flight number into a status search to follow an Aero flight.

Key facts

Main hub

Lagos (LOS)

Murtala Muhammed International

Network

Domestic Nigeria

Nigeria

Aero flies scheduled domestic routes from Lagos to cities including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Benin City, and also runs helicopter and charter services for the oil and gas industry.

Destinations

Good to know

Aero is one of Nigeria’s oldest airlines. The airline’s site, flyaero.com, handles bookings and check-in.

Start a new search

bookingMentor lists N2 fares beside the other carriers on the same route, which shows quickly whether Aero is the cheaper way to reach Benin City.

Safe travels on Aero.

Select dates

At a glance

Aero Contractors (IATA: N2, ICAO: NIG) is a Nigerian airline based in Lagos. Founded in 1959, it flies Boeing 737 and Dash 8 aircraft on domestic routes in Nigeria and also provides helicopter and charter services for the oil and gas sector.

Key facts about Aero Contractors
HeadquartersMurtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria
Fleet typesBoeing 737 Classic and Dash 8
Official websiteflyaero.com

Flight routes

Destinations and routes

Direct routes
These are the cities on Aero’s published route map. Timetables change through the year, so check the Aero schedule before you plan around a route. Search flights

Nigeria

Lagos (LOS) departures8 destinations

Check all

Fleet and aircraft

These are the aircraft Aero had in service in August 2025, according to published fleet records. Deliveries and retirements change the Aero totals over time.

  • Boeing 737-300 Narrow-body Domestic routes
  • Boeing 737-400 Narrow-body Domestic routes
  • Boeing 737-500 Narrow-body Domestic routes
  • De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q300 Turboprop Domestic routes
  • De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400 Turboprop Domestic routes

Cabin classes

The Aero cabin classes are being added Choose your cabin when you search; each fare shows what it includes.
Search Aero flights Cabins on the airline's site

Frequent flyer programme

Details of the Aero loyalty programme are being added Add your membership number when you book to earn miles.
Join on the airline's site

Baggage allowance

Aero does not give every passenger the same allowance: the route, the cabin and the fare you buy each change it. Your N2 e-ticket shows what you have.

Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Set by your fare
Extra bags
Add online before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only

A long-haul Aero trip and a short hop can come with different allowances, and every cabin above the lowest economy fare gets more. The baggage page on flyaero.com shows the rule for your route.

Pro tip: weigh your bag at home and check the limit for your fare on flyaero.com. Dash 8 turboprops have smaller overhead bins than the Boeing 737s.
Travel day

Online Check-in

Aero Contractors flies domestic routes from Lagos. Leave plenty of time to reach the airport and have your ID ready.

  1. Step 1

    Check in online

    Online check-in for N2 flights is on the official Aero website. You need the N2 booking reference or e-ticket number and the passenger’s surname.

    Booking ref + surname
  2. Step 2

    Prepare your documents

    All scheduled Aero Contractors flights are domestic. Nigerian passengers carry an accepted photo ID, and foreign visitors carry their passport.

    Passport · visa · ID
  3. Step 3

    Arrive early

    Aero closes its check-in counters before departure, and passengers who miss the cut-off can be refused boarding. Leave room for bag drop and security at LOS.

    Check your deadline
  4. Step 4

    Drop your bags

    Aero desks and bag-drop points take your hold luggage. Keep the bag-tag receipt with your boarding pass until the bags come off at the end of your N2 trip.

    Aero counter
Ready to check in? Check in and manage your booking on the official Aero website.
Check in with Aero
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Cheap tickets

Aero Contractors runs a small network, so seats on busy days sell out. These habits help.

  1. 01

    Be flexible with dates

    Fares between Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt change by day. Search the whole week before you book.

    Midweek flights
  2. 02

    Avoid peak holiday dates

    Flights fill around Christmas, Easter and the Sallah holidays. Book those dates early.

    School holidays · festivals
  3. 03

    Compare fare types

    Read the conditions of Aero's deals and flexible payment option before you choose a fare.

    Baggage & changes
  4. 04

    Plan popular routes ahead

    On busy Aero routes such as LOS to Benin City, booking several weeks ahead usually leaves more fares to choose from.

    Popular routes
  5. 05

    Compare nearby airports

    Cities with two or more airports can give quite different fares. Check each one before settling on an Aero flight.

    Alternative airports

  6. Ready to compare fares?

    Search Aero alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.

    Search Aero flights

Reviews and questions

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everything travellers ask before flying Aero Contractors.
Answers checked against Aero’s official website and published airline records. Reviewed 10 October 2026.

General

Yes. Aero Contractors sells scheduled domestic flights on its website. The airline paused scheduled services in July 2022 because of operating costs and aircraft maintenance, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority approved its return to scheduled flights in December 2022.