Nigeria Airlines Ready To Resume Flight July 8
** As s NCAA Says Non Compliant Airports, Airlines Will Be Barred
Some Nigeria domestic carriers are smarting to begin flight operations. Some of the airlines ready according to reports are Air Peace, AZMAN Air, Arik Air, Aero Contractors and DANA Air.
Their resumption follows their compliance with the safety, health and other guidelines rolled out by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Information at the organisations websites indicated their readiness to fly.
Arik Air said it will be resuming flight operations following the Federal Government’s decision to re-open Lagos and Abuja airports. Its Managing Director, Captain Roy Ilegbodu said the carrier will be operating three daily flights from Lagos to Abuja in the first phase of the restart while Port Harcourt will be added to the schedule from Saturday, July 11, 2020 when the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa is reopened for operations.
He said: “Passengers have been assured of their safety and well-being at every stage of their flight as the airline has put various measures in place in line with COVID-19 health protocols as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Meanwhile the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has warned it will bar airports and domestic operators that fail to comply with protocols set by it from resuming operations on July 8.
In a letter to all aviation operators dated July 4, 2020 (DG 023/20) with ref: NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/112, and addressed to domestic and foreign airlines operators, Director General of the NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, stated that although domestic flights will resume on July 8, any operator that fails to comply with the stipulated protocols will not be given permit to operate. He said some airlines will be given approval to start but those that haven’t met the criteria will not be allowed to operate. “Following the announcement by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika on the phased resumption of domestic flights, we wish to inform the industry stakeholders that only airports that are in compliance with the provisions of the All Operators Letter of May 18, 2020 witb ref: NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/115 and Advisory circular NCAA-AC-ARD 007 in addition to being authorised by NCAA will be permitted.
