NCAA Suspends Operating Licence of Azman Air Over Failure to Renew Air Operator Certificate, Others

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended Operating Licence of Azman Air as a result of its failure to renew its Air Operator Certificate (AOC), N1.2bn legacy debt accrued from collection of Passenger Service Charge (PSC) among others.

As a result of this development, all flights operated by the airline operator have been cancelled.

It was learned that the NCAA, the regulatory agency for the aviation industry in the country, grounded the airline on Thursday over its failure to renew its Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

Azman Air and other operators in the industry, have been finding it difficult to operate optimally as a result of high operating costs caused by the scarcity of foreign exchange (forex), the rising price of aviation fuel and others.

According to reports, before the suspension of the licence of Azman Air, a department of the NCAA, the Directorate of Air Transport Regulation (DATR), wrote a reminder letter to the management of the firm and issued a 30-day ultimatum to comply with the industry standards.

However, when the team did not receive favourable answers, the NCAA went ahead to suspend the licence of the company in order to safeguard the safety of air passengers.

It was gathered that the AOC of Azman had expired in the first quarter of 2022.

Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has confirmed that it is withholding the Air Transport License (ATL) of local operator Azman Air till a time when the carrier provides the required documentation for its operational licenses renewal and sign a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) on how it would remit it’s N1.2bn legacy debt accrued from collection of Passenger Service Charge( PSC).

An ATL is issued as authorisation to airlines to provide scheduled and non-scheduled services. It is one of the licenses received by airlines before they can commence operation just as they await the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) that fully guarantees them the right to begin air services, and without the ATL the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) becomes invalid.