Nigeria's Enugu Air Receives AOC, Set To Begin Independent Operations

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has officially granted an air operator certificate (AOC) to Enugu Air, allowing the airline to commence scheduled flight operations under its own authorization.

The certificate was presented on March 10 at the NCAA’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, a move the regulator described as “a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector.”

In a statement posted on Linked In, Enugu Air said receiving its AOC marked “a major milestone as we begin independent operations.”

The airline, owned by Enugu State, began services in 2025 with a pair of Embraer E170s and has since added an E190. In February, the carrier received a new E195.

At that time, the aircraft were operated under the AOC of another Nigerian carrier, XE Jet, on behalf of Enugu Air.

In February, Enugu State governor Peter Mbah indicated that the state’s airline is planning for rapid expansion throughout 2026, with as many as 20 aircraft penciled in for the fleet by year-end.

Enugu Air operates to six domestic destinations.