Nigeria Air obtains licence after four years of delay
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
New national carrier Nigeria Air has obtained Air Transport Licence (ATL) from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and is expected to begin operation soon, after four years of delay, says Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika.
“Nigeria Air Limited received from Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) an Air Transport License (ATL), signaling the end of the beginning of operations of the Airline. Commencement date of domestic operations will be announced in due course,” Sirika disclosed in a tweeted.
Nigeria Air was unveiled at the Farnborough Air Show in England on 18 July 2018 and was expected to require $8.8 million preliminary cost and $300 million take off cost.
The project was suspended two months later after critics raised concerns over its relevance and sustainability, remembering how previous national Nigeria Airways collapsed due to corruption and poor management.
But Abuja dismissed all concerns, insisting that Nigeria Air would begin operation before the end of 2018, following the promise by President Muhammadu Buhari to establish a national airline during his 2015 election campaign.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) six months ago approved April 2022 as the commencement date for the operations of the national carrier.
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Equity ownership
Sirika disclosed that 49 per cent of Nigeria Air will be owned by equity partners and 46 per cent by Nigerians while the federal government will own 5 per cent.
The presentation of the ATL to the interim board of Nigeria Air took place at the corporate headquarters of the NCAA, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.
The ATL certificate, signed by NCAA Director General Musa Nuhu, runs for a period of five years (3 June 2022 to 2 June 2027), according to Premium Times.
It is one of the certifications Nigeria Air must acquire before it can commence operation while it awaits the all-important Air Operator Certificate (AOC) that will fully guarantee its right to begin air services.
The new national airline is expected to provide scheduled and non-scheduled services.
 from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and is expected to begin operation soon){kind=link}