Nigeria Air is expected to receive its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) within the next two weeks and plans to commence commercial operations within Q1 of 2023. The airline has been struggling for over four years for the launch. Nigeria announced its plan to launch the national carrier in July 2018 but the project remained on papers due to COVID-19 pandemic.
While speaking to Nigeria Observer, Hadi Sirika, Minister of aviation said: “Nigeria Air will launch shortly. There is a process to establishing an airline, and that process is driven by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Nigeria Air applied for the Air Transport Licence, which has been issued, and now it is applying for an AOC. I believe that one week from today, it should be able to get the AOC issued or within two weeks maximum."
Nigeria Air received its air operator license in June 2022. In September 2022, Ethiopian Airlines took 49% share in the new airline and became its core investor. Going ahead, proposals expect 46% of the new carrier to be held by private Nigerian investors, with just 5% in the hands of the Nigerian government.
Meanwhile, the new carrier’s future is stuck in a legal battle with Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), including Azman Air, Air Peace, MaxAir, United Nigeria Airlines, and TopBrass Aviation filed a case against Nigeria Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, and Nigeria's attorney-general, Abubakar Malami.
The AON claims that the flagship airline ownership should remain wholly with the government as it would give other players undue advantage. The hearing is on February 13, 2023.