Nigeria has been delisted from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category One Status (USFAA CAT 1) under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Programme. This decision means that no Nigerian-registered carrier can operate direct flights to any U.S. destination until Nigeria regains its Category One status.
The delisting occurred due to a new FAA regulation that mandates the removal of countries from Category One status if their airlines fail to operate flights to the U.S. for over two years. Nigeria’s removal from this list follows a seven-year period during which no Nigerian airline conducted direct flights to the United States.
Category One status is awarded to countries that meet U.S. safety standards for international air operations, which include compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. Achieving this status allows airlines from the certified country to operate flights to the U.S. and participate in reciprocal code-share agreements with U.S. carriers.
Nigeria first attained Category One status in August 2010 after a rigorous five-year assessment by FAA inspectors. However, due to the prolonged inactivity of Nigerian airlines in the U.S. market, the country was recently removed from the list. Notably, other African countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Morocco, and South Africa remain on the Category One list, signifying their compliance with ICAO standards.
The new rule by the FAA, which took effect a few months ago, requires nations whose carriers fail to operate under the ‘Open Skies’ agreement with the U.S. for at least two years to undergo a comprehensive recertification process. This process involves a detailed scrutiny of airport security, facilitation, airline audits, and the type of aircraft designated for U.S. operations.
As a result of this delisting, Nigerian carriers, including Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines, will be unable to launch their planned direct flights to U.S. cities like Washington, D.C., and Houston, Texas, until they are fully recertified. This recertification process will require compliance with all necessary safety and security protocols to restore Nigeria’s eligibility for direct U.S. operations.
Despite the delisting, experts have clarified that this development does not imply that Nigeria’s aviation sector is unsafe. Instead, it reflects the need for Nigerian airlines to meet specific operational standards required for international routes, particularly those involving the U.S.
Nigeria had previously passed a similar audit in 2017, conducted by the FAA to maintain its Category One status. However, with the new rule in place, the country must now undergo recertification to regain its standing and enable its carriers to resume direct flights to the U.S.
