What’s Stopping Nigerian Airlines from Flying to the US For Now?

Nigerian airlines face a significant hurdle that prevents them from operating flights to the United States. This obstacle stems from Nigeria losing its Category 1 status, as explained by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). 

This status is crucial because it qualifies Nigerian airlines to fly into the US, adhering to required international safety standards.

The Category 1 status is part of the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Programme. For any country to operate flights to the US, achieving and maintaining this status is mandatory. The acting Director General of Civil Aviation, Nigeria, Capt. Chris Najomo, clarified this situation in a detailed statement issued in Abuja.

Capt. Najomo addressed the ongoing confusion surrounding the purported ban on Nigerian airlines by the United States. He emphasized that this is not a matter of a ban but rather a procedural de-listing due to specific criteria not being met.

Initially, Nigeria achieved Category 1 status back in August 2010 and managed to maintain this status through subsequent safety assessments by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2014 and 2017.

However, a pivotal change occurred in September 2022. The US FAA revised its listing criteria to exclude countries that had not had an indigenous operator serving the US or carrying a US airline code for two years.

Additionally, countries no longer receiving technical assistance from the FAA, based on areas of non-compliance with international safety oversight standards, were also removed from the list.

As a result, Nigeria was de-listed in 2022 after failing to meet these revised criteria. Importantly, Capt. Najomo assured that this de-listing was not due to any safety or security deficiencies within Nigeria’s aviation oversight system.

 Nigeria has passed International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Safety and Security Audits without any significant safety or security concerns.

Despite the current limitations, Nigerian operators can still serve the US market by wet-leasing aircraft from countries that retain their Category 1 status. The NCAA remains committed to adhering to international safety and security standards and respecting the sovereignty of all states, including the USA.

What the minister of Minister of Aviation is saying

To address this setback, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has been actively working to empower local operators. 

His efforts include an aggressive international campaign, a visit to Airbus in France, and a recent memorandum of understanding signed with Boeing in Seattle, Washington. These actions aim to restore international lessor confidence in the Nigerian aviation market through compliance with the Cape Town Convention.

Capt. Najomo expressed confidence that with these ongoing efforts, Nigeria would not only regain its US Category 1 status but also sustain it in the future. 

These steps are crucial for re-establishing the operational capabilities of Nigerian airlines in the US market, reflecting a proactive approach to overcoming regulatory and operational challenges in international aviation.