Nigeria Air To Begin Domestic Flight Operations Before 2023

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has assured that the new national carrier, Nigeria Air, would begin domestic operations before the end of this year.

Sirika gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation to defend his ministry’s 2022 budget performance and the 2023 proposal.

He also said international operations would begin as soon as necessary approvals and certifications are gotten.

“The national carriers will be launched soon. We have Boeing 737 in its fleet for domestic operations and later the international operations would be introduced. We would begin the domestic market, pending the time we would get the certification and approvals to go international and intercontinental, which would be soon.

“The cost of aircraft maintenance, though worrisome, has been managed during this period. Furthermore, it is worthy to note there are more bilateral and multilateral air services agreements that have been signed for the benefit of our air travelers,” he said.

He said the aviation ministry has recorded some significant achievements in virtually all areas of the sector within the life of the administration of President Muhamadu Buhari.

“We have provided the safety and security needed in the aviation sector, which has led to the certification for the first time ever in the history of the country of Murtala Mohammed Airport, Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport. It is a milestone being the first ever airports to be certified, government in, government out. This testimony as to our concern for our focus on safety. We have recorded the highest level of safety and unprecedented growth, making aviation the fastest growing sector of the Nigerian economy.