Why it is on record
The first scheduled airline of any kind to operate in Nigeria. Flew De Havilland Doves and Bristol 170s on Lagos–Kano–Accra–Freetown–Bathurst. The 1958 Nigerian successor (Nigeria Airways) inherited WAAC's routes, hangars and the corporate name WAAC Nigeria.
Record held
First scheduled domestic and regional airline in West Africa.
Deep dive
The West African Airways Corporation (WAAC) was established in 1946 as a joint colonial enterprise of the governments of Nigeria, the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and the Gambia, operating regional services from Lagos, Accra and Bathurst. On the dissolution of the federation in 1958 the Nigerian operation was reconstituted as WAAC Nigeria, which became Nigeria Airways in 1971. WAAC is the constitutional ancestor of every subsequent Nigerian flag carrier.