The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has re-attained the US FAA International Aviation Safety Assessment Category 1 certification, allowing aircraft and crew registered in Nigeria to offer services to the continental US.
The authority first received the certification in 2010. The certification is expected to ensure lower insurance premiums, increase passengers’ confidence, reinforce Nigeria’s compliance with international safety standards, reposition Nigeria as West Africa hub and allow local airlines to code-share with other airlines worldwide.
The NCAA, having attained the US FAA in 2010, scaled through another reassessment in 2014.
Nigeria again went through recertification in November 2017, and came out successful.
Benefits of the status include direct flight with Nigerian registered aircraft and crew in and out of continental United States. Others include:
Lower insurance premium;
Passengers’ confidence boosted resulting to increase in passengers and aircraft movement, and return on investment;
An indication that Nigerian is compliant to International Safety Standards;
Favorable lending/ leasing terms;
Enhance inflow of foreign direct investment and infrastructural development;
Re-positioning of Nigeria as West Africa hub, and
Local airlines have the opportunity to core share with establish world class airlines