Twenty-six operators are currently undergoing processes of obtaining operational licences and recertification from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
Information obtained from the NCAA on Wednesday showed that 16 of the applicants are seeking Air Operators Certificates to operate scheduled domestic flights in the country.
The remaining 10 airlines are undergoing recertification processes in accordance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations of 2009.
A source at the NCAA, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday that once the process was completed, the AOCs would be issued and the new operators would commence flight operations.
According to the NCAA official, the aspiring operators seeking operating licences were Air Taraba, Ean Aviation, Executive Jet Air Services Limited, Gyro Air Limited, Izy Air Limited and Jupiter.
Others are Manyatta Engineering Services, Nestoil Plc, Prime Air, Toucan Air, Baltic Airlines and Oriental Airlines Limited.
Meridian Airlines, Millennium Travels & Tours, Okada Air and Air First are also on the list of those seeking licences from the NCAA.
The airlines seeking recertification include Associated Aviation Limited, Bristow Helicopters, Caverton Helicopters, Chanchangi Airlines, Dornier Aviation Nigeria Limited and IRS Airlines Limited.
Others are Kabo Airlines Limited, Kings Airlines and Travel Limited, Pan African Airlines Nigeria and Skypower Express Airways.
The nation currently has 16 functional domestic carriers that are holders of AOCs in accordance with the NCAR 2009.
They include Allied Air, Aero Contractors, Azman Air, Arik Air, Discovery Air Services, First Nation Airways Limited and Hak Air Limited.
The others are Jed Air, Med-view Airlines, Max Air Limited, Odegene Air Shuttle Limited, Overland Airways, Skybird Air, Skyjet Aviation, Topbrass and Westlink Airlines.
Air Peace Airlines was issued with a licence by the NCAA on Monday.
While presenting the management of the airline with the AOC, the Acting Director-General, NCAA, Mr. Benedict Adeyileka, had said the airline would join others for domestic flight operations.
He explained that the airline was issued with the licence after its management met all the requirements in record time ahead of commencement of operations.
Adeyileka urged the management of the airline to ensure that it adhered to all safety and technical regulations, and to ensure that issues of staff training, aircraft maintenance and crew matters were taken seriously, adding that the NCAA would not hesitate to sanction it for any violation.
He said the NCAA was prepared to sack employees of any airline who violated safety rules, adding that the workers had been warned against activities that were dangerous to the safety of passengers. Punch
