AOC delay holds back start-up Green Africa inaugural flights take-off

Air travellers on queue to savour the flying experience in the Nigerian carrier Green Africa Airways may have to wait for yet another date as the start-up airline registered operator has been forced to postpone initial services, after a delay to its air operator’s certificate.

The Lagos-based regional operator had initial plans to commence flights on June 24 across a network of seven domestic destinations using ATR turboprops. However, while it has been in the final stages of securing its AOC, the airline states that it has agreed with the Nigerian civil aviation authority to delay its first services. The carrier says customers who have already booked flights will be able to transfer them, free of charge, to dates “starting August”.

Green Africa has not elaborated on the reason for the postponement beyond saying that its AOC is being held up “due to unforeseen circumstances”, following a meeting between the regulator and senior members of the carrier’s management team.

According to Babawande Afolabi, chief executive officer of Green Africa, “This is certainly a bump in the road, and we are mindful of the impact, especially on our customers and other stakeholders. I am confident of the regulator’s support in assisting the airline to start flights. We have also put plans in place to compensate our affected customers”.

Green Africa, which had previously been given clearance to open bookings, is suspending its reservations system temporarily to avoid further complications.