Nigeria and Togo Gain New Air Link as ASKY Plans Lomé-Niamey-Kano Service From September

Written By: Prajna Ganguly

Prajna Ganguly

I am a Communication and MarCom Specialist at Travel And Tour World, driven by a passion for researching, writing, and publishing content on the global travel and tourism industry. I specialize in turning industry developments, destination stories, tourism trends, and hospitality insights into engaging, reader-focused content. With a background in media relations, brand positioning, and managing over 200 global partnerships, I bring a deep understanding of the travel ecosystem. My goal is to build a career at the intersection of travel journalism, tourism publishing, strategic communication, and destination storytelling.

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August 21, 2026 1:30 PM

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Pan African air carrier ASKY is looking to further connect West Africa with their first ever flight route linking Lomé with Kano via Niamey. The route is set to take flight on September 2nd, 2026. There will be three flights per week, connecting Lomé with Niger’s capital, Niamey, and Kano in Northern Nigeria.

The new connection will bring a much needed alternative for business travelers, members of the diaspora, and other travelers connecting from northern Nigeria to French West Africa (and vice versa).

These plans also benefit Togo’s goal of making Lomé an important aviation transport hub. Togo’s government chooses not to hide their selection of ASKY as their primary carrier to build this transport hub. Togo’s government endorses the connection of new African countries as ASKY grows its network from Lomé.

The planned Kano route, in all likelihood, will mark another milestone in direct flights between cities that have typically involved many connections through other large regional hubs.

ASKY Plans New Lomé Niamey Kano Connection

The planned route will connect three strategically important West African cities.

Flights are expected to originate at Lomé-Tokoin Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport, travel through Niamey and continue towards Kano.

The service is planned three times per week.

This routing could create several different passenger flows within a single operation.

Travellers could use the service between Lomé and Niamey, between Niamey and Kano or for the longer journey between Togo and northern Nigeria.

This type of multi-city operation can help airlines serve markets where individual city pairs may not initially generate enough passengers to support separate nonstop services.

Combining several markets can therefore improve the commercial viability of regional African routes.

Kano Opens Important Northern Nigerian Market

Kano gives the planned route particular strategic importance.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority maintains a dedicated regional office at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, reflecting Kano’s established position within Nigeria’s aviation system.

The city is one of northern Nigeria’s major economic centres.

Its large population and commercial activity generate demand for domestic and international travel.

Kano is also important for trade and religious travel, while its historic character creates potential for cultural tourism.

A connection towards Lomé and Niamey could provide travellers in northern Nigeria with additional regional travel options without first travelling south towards Lagos.

Lomé Continues Building Regional Hub Role

For Togo, the new connection fits into a much bigger aviation strategy.

The Togolese government wants Lomé to become a leading logistics and aviation hub in West Africa.

ASKY is central to this ambition.

Official Togolese government information published in July 2026 describes the airline as serving 30 destinations across 27 African countries with a fleet of 17 aircraft.

The government also identifies ASKY as a privately operated pan-African airline supported by major regional institutions and strategic partners.

Togo itself has invested in the airline.

The government views that participation as a strategic investment capable of strengthening regional integration while supporting Lomé’s position as an international transport centre.

ASKY Fleet Expansion Supports New Routes

The airline’s ability to open additional destinations is closely connected with fleet growth.

Togo’s official government publication highlighted ASKY’s continued aircraft expansion in 2026.

Transport Minister Comla Kadje described the growth of the fleet as positive for both Togo and the wider African market.

The government sees additional aircraft as essential to strengthening connectivity.

More aircraft give an airline greater ability to increase frequencies, launch routes and provide backup capacity when individual jets undergo maintenance.

This becomes especially important for an airline operating a hub-and-spoke network.

ASKY needs flights from multiple African cities to arrive in Lomé at suitable times so passengers can transfer onto other services.

Niamey Adds Another Regional Connection

Niamey’s inclusion gives the planned service another dimension.

Niger sits between West Africa and the Sahel, and air transport can be particularly important across a region where surface journeys between countries can involve substantial distances.

Connecting Niamey with Kano could support passenger movement between Niger and northern Nigeria.

The two markets have longstanding economic and social connections.

A scheduled aviation link can complement those relationships by offering a faster option for travellers whose journeys are time-sensitive.

Niamey’s position between Lomé and Kano also creates the possibility of combining traffic from several markets on the same aircraft.

New Route Could Strengthen Regional Trade

The potential economic importance extends beyond passenger tourism.

West African economies are closely connected through cross-border trade.

Kano is a major commercial centre with longstanding links across the Sahel.

Lomé, meanwhile, benefits from Togo’s port and logistics infrastructure.

The Togolese government has deliberately pursued a strategy aimed at developing the country as a regional logistics hub.

A stronger aviation network complements this ambition.

Business travellers need efficient ways to move between markets.

Air cargo capacity can also provide opportunities for higher-value or time-sensitive goods, depending on the aircraft and cargo capacity available on individual services.

Improved air connectivity can therefore support trade relationships even when passenger travel remains the primary purpose of a route.

Tourism Could Benefit From Better Connections

The planned service also has potential tourism value.

Lomé offers beaches, markets, cultural experiences and access to destinations elsewhere in Togo.

Kano provides a very different visitor experience.

Its history, markets and cultural heritage make it one of northern Nigeria’s most distinctive urban destinations.

Better air access does not automatically create tourism demand.

Destinations still need accommodation, visitor services, effective promotion and easy local transport.

But connectivity is one of the foundations on which tourism grows.

A destination that requires multiple connections can be more difficult and expensive to sell than one served by a straightforward regional flight.

Lomé Hub Creates Wider Travel Possibilities

One of the biggest potential benefits for Kano passengers is access to ASKY’s wider network.

Official Togolese government information says ASKY currently connects 30 destinations in 27 African countries.

That gives Lomé an important role as a transfer point.

Passengers arriving from Kano could potentially connect towards other ASKY destinations, subject to schedules and ticketing arrangements.

This is significant because direct flights between many African cities remain limited.

Hub networks allow airlines to overcome that problem by gathering passengers from smaller markets and connecting them through a central airport.

ASKY’s growth has helped Lomé become an increasingly important transfer point between West and Central Africa.

The Togolese government also highlights the airline’s connections towards eastern and southern African markets.

Ethiopian Airlines Partnership Supports ASKY

ASKY’s relationship with Ethiopian Airlines is another important part of its development.

Official Togolese government information identifies Ethiopian Airlines as one of ASKY’s shareholders and describes it as a strategic technical partner.

This relationship gives ASKY access to aviation expertise from one of Africa’s largest airline groups.

Partnerships can also strengthen connectivity by creating opportunities for passengers to travel across broader networks.

For Togo, the relationship supports the ambition of developing Lomé as an important African aviation gateway.

Better Intra-African Connectivity Remains Essential

The route also highlights one of African aviation’s biggest challenges.

Travelling between major cities within Africa can sometimes require indirect routings through distant hubs.

This increases journey times and fares.

Adding more direct regional connections can gradually reduce that problem.

The Lomé-Niamey-Kano concept demonstrates how airlines can connect several underserved markets within one service.

Rather than concentrating only on flights to Europe or the Middle East, African carriers can use regional routes to strengthen movement within the continent itself.

That has potential benefits for business, tourism and regional integration.

Togo and Nigeria Could Gain From ASKY Expansion

The new ASKY route is more than just another route on a map.

It enhances Lomé’s role as a regional airport hub for Togo. For Nigeria, it adds an additional international route from Kano and more direct access to the francophone region of West Africa.

Including Niamey would strengthen the Sahel’s connectivity and allow ASKY to better consolidate a number of passenger markets.

The new service also indicates ASKY’s rapid growth.

Confirming information from the Togolese government indicates that ASKY now flies to 30 destinations in 27 African countries, positioning itself as an important player in intra-African air transport.

The level of passenger demand, reliability and the potential for the route to support a profitable level of traffic will determine the long-term consequences of the new service.

However, the reasoning behind the new service is clear. The benefits of improved transport links between West Africa’s major trade centers is obvious. By connecting Lomé, Niamey, and Kano, ASKY is contributing to the broader West African transport network.

Passengers would have more and shorter vaste options, and businesses would have better access to trade lanes. Additionally, the rapid growth of air connectivity from Lomé strengthens Togo’s reputation and focus of its aviation strategy.