The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority denied Aero Contractors, Azman Air, and Max Air approval to resume flight operations on Wednesday because they had not met the new COVID-19 protocols for flight resumption.
Arik Air, Dana Air, Air Peace, Overland and Ibom Air have, however, been cleared to begin operations. But only Arik, Ibom Air and Air Peace operated flights on Wednesday.
Dana had not resumed as of the time of filing this report.
The Chairman, NCAA COVID-19 Committee, Godwin Balang, had on Tuesday night, announced, during a webinar, that the Authority granted approval to only five airlines to resume flight operations on Wednesday.
The unscheduled aircraft operators that had complied with the NCAA regulations, so far, according to the committee, are Allied Air Limited, ANAP Business Jets and Bristow Helicopters.
The committee added that all domestic airports scored an aggregate 87.2 per cent “but only Murtala Muhammed International Airport, GAT; Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MM2; Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja have been given the approval to restart.”
Arik Air started the first early morning flight to Abuja, while Air Peace followed at 10.30am. Ibom Air’s first flight was at 11am. The spacing was in line with the new flying rules.
