The Federal Government has approved Pioneer Airlines to commence unscheduled flight operations in Nigeria. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) officially issued the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to the new airline, allowing it to operate charter flights and group bookings.
NCAA Commends Safety Standards
During the certificate presentation in Abuja, the Director-General of the NCAA, Chris Ona Najomo, congratulated Pioneer Airlines on meeting high safety standards throughout the certification process. He urged the airline to maintain its current safety and operational standards as it begins operations.
Najomo emphasized that the NCAA will continuously monitor the airline to ensure compliance with industry regulations and global best practices.
Airline's Background and Fleet
Pioneer Airlines, backed by the Bayelsa State Government, currently owns two aircraft. The Managing Director, Henry Ungbuku, noted that the certification process took slightly over four months due to the airline's operational preparedness.
Ungbuku explained that the NCAA previously required airlines to own at least six aircraft for scheduled commercial flight certification. However, the policy was revised to require only two aircraft, enabling Pioneer Airlines to apply for unscheduled operations first.
He stated: "We have two aircraft which were given by the Bayelsa State government. Prior to the certification, the rule states that for you to be certified for scheduled operations, you must own six aircraft. So because we had two aircraft, we had applied for unscheduled, which is for charter and group bookings."
Plans for Scheduled Flights
Ungbuku declared that Pioneer Airlines will soon file for certification for scheduled commercial flight operations, as it now fulfills the NCAA's new criteria. The airline plans to lease aircraft from the Bayelsa State Government and pay monthly lease charges after operations commence.
Pioneer Airlines enters Nigeria's aviation sector amid fierce competition. Other airlines, such as United Nigeria Airlines, have also been expanding their workforce and announcing job vacancies across multiple departments.
The approval of Pioneer Airlines adds to the growing list of new aviation operators in Nigeria's developing industry.
