Nigerian Aviation Authority Mulls Approval Of Chinese C919 For Domestic Airlines

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is actively exploring the certification of China’s C919 jet for use by domestic airlines, as ties with Beijing strengthen and amid growing fleet expansion plans.

The authority’s director general, Capt. Chris Ona Najomo told Reuters that the authority is looking into the certification process, which could take several months, despite the aircraft not having approval from Western regulators.

China’s COMAC, the manufacturer behind the narrow-body C919 designed to rival Airbus and Boeing models, has engaged with Nigerian officials to promote its jets.

The company is keen to expand into Africa but faces hurdles, including missed delivery deadlines and the absence of Western regulatory certifications.

COMAC, which hopes to access the broader African market, faces challenges. Its two-plane models lack benchmark certifications from Western regulators, and it is falling behind in its delivery targets.

This year, the U.S. temporarily halted the CFM (GE.N) exports, opened a new tab (SAF.PA), and opened new tab engines that it used on the C919 due to trade conflicts.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with 230 million people, has potential as a growing aviation market.

The civil aviation authority’s director general, Capt. Chris Ona Najomo, told Reuters the agency is considering the months-long certification process for the jet to operate on domestic routes, noting the absence of validation from Western regulators.

“We’re looking at the certification of the airplane. First of all, that is where we have to start,” Najomo said on the sidelines of the U.N. aviation agency’s assembly in Montreal.

Najomo said COMAC officials had offered maintenance and training support for any planes operated by Nigerian carriers, and was exploring so-called dry lease arrangements, which involve leasing aircraft without crew.

“We just told them that if they can make sure they facilitate a good dry lease arrangement, it’s better,” Najomo said.

The CEO of Nigerian airline NG Eagle, Abdullahi Ahmed, expressed interest in expanding his fleet beyond its current three jets and said he would consider COMAC planes if certified and accompanied by maintenance and training support.

Nigeria’s improved Aviation Working Group rating reflects stronger compliance with the Cape Town Convention, a treaty simplifying leasing of aviation equipment.

Najomo said this development boosted confidence among lessors, enabling the country’s 13 airlines to access newer planes on the leasing market.

While air travel remains costly for most Nigerians, the average real airfare fell 43.6 per cent between 2011 and 2023, according to IATA data.

Currently, the C919 is only operated by Chinese airlines.

Three airlines in Southeast Asia also fly COMAC’s smaller C909 regional jet.