Ekiti airport gets NCAA’s approval to commence non-scheduled flights

The Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport (EAICA) has received the approval of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to commence non-scheduled flight operations effective December 15.

A non-scheduled flight means a flight that does not operate according to a fixed timetable and that is not necessarily part of a regular or scheduled route.

In a statement, Yinka Oyebode, special adviser on media to the Ekiti governor, said the approval followed the state government’s application for a flight operational permit for the airport.

According to Oyebode, the NCAA conveyed the approval in a letter dated December 11, addressed to Biodun Oyebanji, governor of Ekiti.

He said the letter, signed by Chris Najomo, NCAA’s acting director-general, authorised non-scheduled operations under visual flight rules (VFR) for six months, spanning December 15, 2024, to June 15, 2025.

“According to NCAA, the approval for a six months non-schedule operation at the airport is to enable the NCAA validate the implementation of the pending findings and to allow Ekiti State Government time to rectify a few outstanding corrective action items indicated in the agency’s last inspection report,” the statement reads.

“As part of compliance steps towards the commencement of the non-scheduled flight operations at the airport, operations are to be in agreement with relevant agencies for provision of essential services, including Air Traffic Services, Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services, Aviation Security and Meteorological services.

“It will be recalled that the state government had earlier signed MoUs and Service Level Agreements with these federal aviation agencies.”

Oyebode said the governor regarded the NCAA’s approval as a positive step, reflecting the government’s commitment to boosting the state’s socio-economic development.

“Governor Biodun Oyebanji describes the NCAA’s approval as a welcome development and a justification for the state’s investment in the airport project, which was designed to boost Ekiti State’s socioe-conomic development by making the state more readily accessible,” he said.

“Governor Oyebanji had earlier in the year assured stakeholders that the Ekiti airport would become operational before the end of the year.”

He said the approval permits private jets and chartered flights to operate at the airport from 6 am to 6 pm (sunrise to sunset), paving the way for the final authorisation of commercial flight operations.