Nigeria Air Explains Delay In Acquisition Of Aircraft

The interim management of the national carrier, Nigeria Air, has explained why the proposed new airline had not been able to take delivery of any aircraft required for its operations.

Speaking at the headquarters of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority after receiving an Air Transport Licence for Nigeria Air, the Chief Executive of the airline’s management, Capt. Dapo Olumide, categorically stated that “it is very difficult to get the aircraft,” attributing this to the effect of COVID-19 on the aviation sector globally, among other factors.

Olumide, who received the licence on behalf of the proposed new airline, however, stated that efforts were ongoing to get all the aircraft, as this was a basic requirement by the NCAA before the issuance of another vital certificate.

Media had reported on Monday that the civil aviation regulator would present an ATL to the interim management of Nigeria Air in Abuja.

The ATL with the number NCAA/ATR1/ATL214, which was presented to the airline, was signed by the Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, and would run for a period of five years from June 3, 2022, to June 2, 2027.

An Air Transport Licence is issued as authorisation to airlines to provide scheduled and non-scheduled services.

It is one of the licences received by airlines before they can commence operations just as they await the all-important Air Operator Certificate that fully guarantees them the right to begin air services.

The issuance of an ATL to Nigeria Air on Monday came four years after the branding and livery of the new airline were unveiled by the Federal Government during the Farnborough Air Show in July 2018 in London.

Since then, there had been several efforts and promises by the Federal Government to get the airline functional, as the airline’s boss insisted on Monday that the national carrier was making progress, based on the presentation of an ATL to the airline by the NCAA.

However, in his response to an enquiry on the aeroplanes needed for airline’s operations, Olumide stated that it had been tough to get them.