PHOTOS: NCAA presents air operator certificate to Bayelsa-owned airline
May 14, 2026 10:36 am
Managing Director of Pioner Airline, Capt. Ungbuku and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. Photo: X | Festus Keyamo
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The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has presented an Air Operator Certificate to Bayelsa State-owned Pioneer Airline, officially clearing the carrier to commence commercial flight operations.
The development was disclosed in a post shared by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on his official X handle on Thursday.
“Yesterday, the Bayelsa State-owned airline named PIONEER AIRLINE was presented its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by the regulator, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), signalling the beginning of its commercial operations,” he wrote.
The minister added that the airline team, led by its Managing Director, Capt. Ungbuku later paid him a courtesy visit following the certification.
Keyamo also linked the emergence of more state-owned airlines to reforms and policies introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“I remarked at the occasion that the rise in State-owned airlines is a result of excellent aviation policies put in place by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that we should look out for more of such in the immediate future,” he wrote.
He further noted that the expansion of airline operators would provide travellers with more options for air transportation across the country.
“This would significantly assist air travellers to have more choices of airlines with which they can travel,” the minister added.
Olugbenga Ige is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over nine years of professional reporting experience. He is known for his sharp eye for compelling stories and a strong instinct for identifying newsworthy developments. Over the years, Olugbenga has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
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