Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport (EAICA) has been granted approval by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to initiate non-scheduled flight operations starting December 15.
Gatekeepers News reports that non-scheduled flights are characterised by their lack of a fixed timetable and do not adhere to regular route schedules.
Yinka Oyebode, the special adviser on media to the Ekiti Governor, confirmed that this approval followed a formal application submitted by the state government for a flight operational permit for the airport. The NCAA communicated the approval through a letter dated December 11, which was addressed to Biodun Oyebanji, the Governor of Ekiti.
The letter, signed by Chris Najomo, the acting director-general of the NCAA, authorizes non-scheduled operations to take place under visual flight rules (VFR) for a period of six months, from December 15, 2024, to June 15, 2025.
“According to NCAA, the approval for a six-month 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 socio-economic 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.
