Aviation regulator NCAA suspends Azman's air operator certificate indefinitely

NIGERIAN Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) officials have suspended the operations of domestic airline Azman Air until further notice in response to the carrier's inability to renew its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) as dictated by industry regulations.

Of late, many Nigerian domestic airlines have been struggling in a hostile economic climate brought about by the high cost of aviation fuel and a scarcity of foreign exchange. They are struggling to remain afloat as aviation fuel is scare and they also lack the hard currency for repairs, spare parts and new aircraft.

Among the conditions airlines need to meet to remain operational is that they have to renew their AOCs every year. This proves that their aircraft are airworthy, they meet healthy and safety standards and the airline have the necessary insurance cover to meet and costs or damages that may arise.                                                                                                          

In July this year, the NCAA suspended the air transport licence AOC of Dana Airlines indefinitely following the carrier's inability to meet its financial obligations. At the time, NCAA director-general, Captain Musa Nuhu, said the findings of an investigation revealed that Dana Airlines was no longer in a position to meet its financial obligations and to conduct safe flight operations.

Today, the NCAA has handed out similar stringent punishment to Azman Air. Informing its customers of the development, Azman Air's website currently says that all flights to and from different routes have been cancelled.