Nigerian Airlines Delisted from Flying Directly to U.S.

Nigeria has lost its US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category One status, which previously allowed its airlines to operate direct flights to the United States. This change means no Nigerian airline can fly directly to the US until Nigeria regains its status through a re-certification process.

The delisting occurred due to a lack of Nigerian airlines flying to the US for over seven years. The FAA’s rule states that countries with no airlines operating flights to the US within a timeframe of two years will lose their Category One status.

Speaking on the issue,  Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, said:

….The US FAA de-listed Category One countries that, after two years, had no indigenous operator provide service to the U.S. or carry the airline code of a US operator. Also removed from the Category One list were countries where the FAA was not providing technical assistance based on identified areas of non-compliance to international standards for safety oversight.

Nigeria first achieved the status in August 2010, following a five-year rigorous exercise. Arik Air, Nigeria’s sole airline on the Lagos-New York route, suspended operations in 2017. Since then, no Nigerian carrier has resumed flights to the US. Air Peace had plans to launch a Lagos-New York route but now faces a significant setback.

Najomo claimed that the delisting has nothing to do with safety or security deficiencies in Nigeria’s oversight system. However, insiders have suggested that the delisting stems from declining aviation standards and failure to keep pace with global regulatory changes. According to Daily Independent, an industry expert mentioned Nigeria’s recent safety and security audits by the ICAO “performed below industry standards.”

For Nigeria to regain its status, it will require a re-audit by the US FAA, including assessments of its civil aviation authority, safety protocols, and technical staff. While Nigeria faces these challenges, seven other African countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa, still retain their Category One status. Following the delisting, Nigerian operators can only fly to the US using aircraft wet-leased from countries that maintain their Category One status.

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