The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has presented an Air Operator Certificate to Bayelsa State-owned Pioneer Airline, officially clearing the carrier to commence commercial flight operations.
The development was disclosed in a post shared by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on his official X handle on Thursday.
“Yesterday, the Bayelsa State-owned airline named PIONEER AIRLINE was presented its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by the regulator, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), signalling the beginning of its commercial operations,” he wrote.
The minister added that the airline team, led by its Managing Director, Capt. Ungbuku later paid him a courtesy visit following the certification.
Keyamo also linked the emergence of more state-owned airlines to reforms and policies introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“I remarked at the occasion that the rise in State-owned airlines is a result of excellent aviation policies put in place by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that we should look out for more of such in the immediate future,” he wrote.
He further noted that the expansion of airline operators would provide travellers with more options for air transportation across the country.
“This would significantly assist air travellers to have more choices of airlines with which they can travel,” the minister added.
The PUNCH