Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority issues operating licences to five new domestic airlines

FIVE new airlines are due to launch in Nigeria this year after the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) approved their air operating certificates (AOC) that would authorise them to commence operations over the last week.

Captain Chris Najomo, the NCAA director-general, said during the process of approving the AOCs, he ensured the applicants did not cut corners and all safety demands were met before handing the certificate over to them. Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting chaired by aviation minister Festus Keyamo, in Lagos, he added that an AOC is an operating license for airlines venturing into air commercial transport.

According to Captain Najomo, the approval of the AOCs by the NCAA implies that five prospective airlines have been approved to commence commercial flight operations in the country. Speaking on aging aircraft in Nigeria, he said it is not how new an aircraft is that makes it safe but how well the aircraft is maintained.

Captain Najomo added: “The NCAA is carrying out surveillance on all aircraft operating in Nigeria to ensure these aircraft are maintained. Brand new aircraft still take offering and crash, so, the age of an aircraft doesn’t determine how safe it is.”

On the scarcity of jobs in the aviation sector, Captain Najomo explained the NCAA is doing its best to ensure airlines bring in more aircraft into the country. He added that the presence of more aircraft would mean more jobs for the industry.