Lagos LOS → United States
Nigeria to USA air cargo charter
Freighter capacity from Lagos Murtala Muhammed (LOS) to New York, Atlanta and Houston — for oil and gas equipment, project cargo and shipments that cannot wait for scheduled space.
Leg distances
LOS Lagos → JFK New York
One leg in a 777F; just beyond the 747-400F design range.
LOS Lagos → ATL Atlanta
Slightly beyond 777F range at maximum payload.
LOS Lagos → IAH Houston
10,469 km[1]
Stop or reduced payload.
LOS Lagos → LAX Los Angeles
12,419 km[1]
Stop required.
| Leg | Great-circle distance | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| LOS Lagos → JFK New York | 8,444 km[1][2][4] | One leg in a 777F; just beyond the 747-400F design range. |
| LOS Lagos → ATL Atlanta | 9,395 km[1][2] | Slightly beyond 777F range at maximum payload. |
| LOS Lagos → IAH Houston | 10,469 km[1] | Stop or reduced payload. |
| LOS Lagos → LAX Los Angeles | 12,419 km[1] | Stop required. |
Aircraft and regulatory reference
LOS–JFK: Lagos to New York
New York is within one-leg reach of Lagos for a 777F at full payload. A 747-400F is just outside its 8,250 km design range on this sector, which in practice means a small payload reduction or a stop. For a shipment near the aircraft's weight limit, that difference decides which type we put forward.
LOS–IAH: Lagos to Houston
Houston is the centre of the US oil and gas supply industry, which makes it a natural destination — and origin — for Nigerian energy cargo. At 10,469 km it is beyond full-payload range in one leg.
For drilling equipment and spares the comparison is a charter to Houston with a stop, or a one-leg charter to New York or Atlanta plus a truck.
Who can fly the charter
To start flights to the US, an airline needs its home country to hold an FAA safety rating. Nigeria held Category 1 from 2010 but has been off the list since 2022, so a Nigerian-registered freighter cannot simply add US charters. The flights are operated by carriers from rated countries that already hold US authority.
Plan a charter from Lagos
The form opens with Lagos (LOS) as origin. Add the US destination, tonnage and ready date. No account needed.
Nigerian paperwork on both directions
For exports from Nigeria, the exporter registers the shipment on Form NXP through an authorised dealer bank before the Nigeria Customs Service clears it. For imports into Nigeria — the common direction for oil and gas equipment — Form M is the equivalent document. Missing forms stop cargo at the terminal, so we ask about them at enquiry stage.
Both directions in one plan
Much charter traffic on this lane runs from the US into Nigeria. A freighter that has delivered equipment to Lagos needs a load back, and a northbound charter on that return can avoid paying for an empty positioning flight. Tell us if you move cargo in both directions; matching the legs is where a broker saves real money.
US arrival requirements
Related pages
Questions
How far is Lagos from New York by air?
8,444 km great-circle distance between LOS and JFK — within the range Boeing states for a 777F at maximum payload.
Can a Nigerian airline fly cargo charters to the USA?
Not at present. Nigeria has had no FAA safety rating since 2022, so US charters from Lagos are operated by carriers from rated countries.
Which documents does a cargo export from Nigeria need?
Besides invoice, packing list and air waybill, the exporter registers the shipment on Form NXP through an authorised dealer bank before customs clearance.
Is a cargo flight from Lagos to Houston nonstop?
With a full load, no: at 10,469 km it is beyond full-payload freighter range. Options are a stop, a reduced payload, or a flight to New York or Atlanta with onward trucking.
Plan a charter from Lagos
The form opens with Lagos (LOS) as origin. Add the US destination, tonnage and ready date. No account needed.