Nigerian aviation mogul Chukwuerika Achum is positioning VivaJets for expansion into Francophone Africa as the private aviation company strengthens its regional fleet and pursues new business partnerships. The expansion comes just over a year after the company obtained its Air Operator Certificate, with its fleet now reaching eight aircraft.

VivaJets, a subsidiary of Falcon Aero, participated in the fifth UK-West and Central Francophone Africa Trade and Investment Forum (WCAF V) in Conakry, Guinea, in October. The event brought together government officials, institutional investors, businesses and international partners to explore trade, investment and commercial opportunities across French-speaking West and Central Africa.

Financing regional expansion

The company has also secured two rounds of credit investment from London-based TLG Capital to finance its expansion and support its ambition to improve connectivity through private aviation. The financing provides external backing for a fleet expansion strategy that will require sustained investment in aircraft, operational infrastructure and market development.

Chief Executive Officer Erika Achum said Francophone Africa represents an important opportunity to strengthen regional connectivity and facilitate the movement of people, ideas and investment. She said VivaJets wants to become a trusted aviation partner to businesses and institutions driving commercial activity across African markets.

Chief Operating Officer Tejumade Salami said the company’s expansion was not simply about increasing its aircraft count but building operational capacity, service capabilities and partnerships. Head of Growth and Innovation Basil Agbor described the Conakry forum as an opportunity to understand regional markets and establish relationships with potential business partners.

Eight aircraft in focus

VivaJets’ expansion comes as African businesses increasingly look to private aviation for corporate travel, executive transportation and access to markets where commercial airline connections remain limited. For the company, entering Francophone Africa will require relationships with governments, corporate clients and institutions that generate demand for charter services.

The two rounds of credit financing from TLG Capital also highlight how external lenders can support the growth of younger African aviation businesses. Unlike expansion funded solely through shareholders or aircraft manufacturers, credit-backed fleet investment places greater emphasis on aircraft utilization, charter demand and the ability to generate consistent operating cash flow.

VivaJets expects to add two more aircraft to its fleet this year, taking its planned fleet expansion beyond the eight aircraft already in operation. The company has also recorded more than 2,000 flight hours since commencing operations, providing an operating base as it prepares to enter additional African markets.

Achum’s Pan-African aviation ambition

Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Lagos, VivaJets operates under Falcon Aerospace Ltd., the Nigerian aviation group founded by Achum. The business has recorded more than 2,000 flight hours and expects to add two aircraft to its fleet this year, taking its planned fleet to 10.

Achum, also known as Erika Achum, has built Falcon Aerospace as a Pan-African aviation platform around private air travel and digital aviation services. The group’s portfolio includes VivaJets, alongside FlyPJX and CharterXE, platforms developed to serve different segments of the aviation and aircraft-chartering market. Beyond aviation, he leads The Adrenalina, a startup incubator, and Instig Labs, a technology company focused on developing digital infrastructure.

The expansion into Francophone Africa represents another step in Achum’s efforts to develop a pan-African aviation business. Whether the company can turn its financing, growing fleet and regional relationships into sustained commercial operations will be a key measure of its ability to compete in Africa’s business aviation market.