The Managing Director of Pioneer Airline, Capt. Henry Ungbuku, says the process of obtaining an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was highly demanding but successfully completed in record time.
Ungbuku stated this on Thursday at the Bayelsa State Government House, Yenagoa, while presenting the operational certificate to Governor Douye Diri.
According to him, regulatory approval for commercial flight operations typically takes between eight months and two years, but Pioneer Airline completed the process in about four and a half months with strong backing from the state government.
He described the certification as a major milestone, noting that aviation regulators confirmed the airline as one of the fastest operators to secure an AOC in the country.
Ungbuku explained that Pioneer Airline is operating under a dry lease arrangement with the Bayelsa State Government, which owns the aircraft assets.
He added that ticket sales are expected to begin within seven to ten days ahead of the official commencement of operations scheduled for May 25.
The airline boss also disclosed that while approval is still pending to operate under the “Bayelsa Air” brand, flights would initially be conducted under Pioneer Airline.
He said the service would not yet operate as a full scheduled commercial airline but would provide charter and flexible booking options through approved ticketing agents and travel partners.
Ungbuku assured that the airline was prepared to operate flights to major destinations across the country, including Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna and other cities, depending on demand.
He commended Governor Diri for what he described as consistent support that enabled the certification process and progress toward launching state-linked air services.
Accompanied by the Managing Director of the Bayelsa State International Airport, Air Vice Marshal Nelson Calmday (rtd), Ungbuku said the airline achieved the feat in four and a half months with the support of the state government.
He said the process, which typically takes between eight months and two years, was completed in record time.
He also explained that Pioneer as a privately-owned carrier has a dry lease agreement with the Bayelsa government and that ticket bookings would open within a seven to ten-day window ahead of the May 25 launch date.
“At our meeting with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and the Honourable Minister of Aviation in Abuja on Wednesday, they confirmed that Pioneer Airline is the fastest to get an Air Operator Certificate in Nigeria.
”Normally, it takes between eight months and two years. But we got it in four and a half months,” Ungbuku said.
He credited the record-breaking process to Governor Diri’s consistent push to ensure flights begin from Bayelsa, and thanked the governor for the support to obtain the certificate.
“We came today to say thank you, Your Excellency, for all the support you have given us.
“The Bayelsa government owns the assets and Pioneer will pay monthly lease rentals to use them to generate revenue. For now, the aircraft will operate under Pioneer Airline. The approval to brand them as Bayelsa Air is still pending with the NCAA.
“It is not a direct scheduled service yet. However, you can book through designated ticketing and travel agencies or arrange group bookings and charter to anywhere in Nigeria.
”If you want an aircraft to fly to Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna or anywhere today, we are ready to fly,” Ungbuku stated.
