By Danjuma Amodu
PORT HARCOURT — In a bid to broaden Nigeria’s airspace and expand access for citizens, Pioneer Airlines has received its Air Operator Certificate from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, clearing the way for scheduled flights that will connect cities across Southern Nigeria directly from Port Harcourt and Yenagoa.
The certification, handed over on Wednesday, marks the completion of a four-and-a-half-month process and makes Pioneer the first airline to base operations in both Port Harcourt and Yenagoa to serve the region without routing through Lagos or Abuja.
Speaking after receiving the certificate, Managing Director Capt. Henry Ungbuku described the milestone as the fulfilment of a childhood dream and a breakthrough for regional connectivity in the Niger Delta and South-South.
“I’m so excited because a dream as a child has become a reality today,” Ungbuku said. He credited the NCAA for guiding the airline through regulatory requirements and praised the Bayelsa State Government, which owns the aircraft, for backing the project.
He credited the airline’s progress to teamwork and aviation veteran Capt. Crosby, whom he described as a father figure to the airline. Pioneer completed certification in 4.5 months, faster than the industry average of 8 months to 2 years.
Under the new route plan, passengers will be able to fly directly between Calabar, Warri, Benin, Enugu, Yenagoa, and other southern cities. The airline said it will immediately apply for scheduled operations after recent NCAA rule changes reduced the minimum aircraft requirement from six to two.
Ungbuku, a former Aero Contractors pilot, said safety would remain the airline’s priority. “Aero Contractors was known for safety and Pioneer Airlines is 100 per cent in that line. No compromise,” he said.
The airline operates the state-owned aircraft under a dry lease arrangement, with revenue from operations remitted back to Bayelsa State.
Industry observers say the launch could reduce travel time and costs for passengers in the South-South and South-East, cutting reliance on Lagos and Abuja as transit hubs.
