Nigeria has lost its United States Category One status after failing to maintain direct flights to the US for two consecutive years. The US Federal Aviation Administration (USFAA) mandates that any country whose airlines do not operate direct flights to the US for two years will lose this status.
As a result of this downgrade, Nigerian airlines, including those planning to launch direct flights from Lagos, are now unable to operate direct routes to any US city or airport. To regain this status, Nigeria will need to undergo a re-audit and recertification by the USFAA.
Nigeria initially earned Category One status in August 2010 after a rigorous five-year process. However, a decline in standards and the lack of direct flights by Nigerian airlines to the US for the past seven years have led to the loss of this rating, according to industry stakeholders.
Industry analyst and Director of Research at Zenith Travels, Olumide Ohunayo, noted that while the situation is not a downgrade, the chances for Nigerian airlines to resume direct flights to the US are now slim. He emphasized the importance of calling the FAA back for a re-audit, especially now that some Nigerian carriers have shown interest in flying to the US.
Ohunayo advised that the country should prepare thoroughly for the audit and work to maintain the Category One status once regained, highlighting the need for airlines to be fully prepared to utilize their certification and slots effectively.
Currently, 83 countries hold either Category One or Two status according to the updated USFAA list. African countries with Category One status include Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Morocco, and South Africa, which are recognized for meeting International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
Nigeria’s Category One status was lost following the suspension of direct flights by Arik Air, the only Nigerian airline operating on the Lagos-New York route, in February 2017. The airline ceased operations to the US shortly before its takeover by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
Local airlines hoping to launch flights to the US may face significant challenges until the re-audit and recertification are successfully completed, according to experts.
Despite Nigeria’s loss of Category One status, two US carriers—United Airlines and Delta Air Lines—continue to operate direct flights to Nigeria from their US bases.
John Ojikutu, an industry expert and CEO of Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult, remarked that the loss of status was anticipated given Nigeria’s recent poor performance in an ICAO audit. He recalled warning that the FAA and TSA were closely monitoring developments in Nigeria’s airports and airspace, and predicted that any airline planning to operate US flights would face difficulties if Nigeria lost its Category One status.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) explained that Nigeria’s removal from the Category One list was not due to any safety or security deficiencies but rather the absence of Nigerian airlines operating direct flights to the US within the required two-year period. Chris Najomo, acting director-general of the NCAA, clarified that Nigeria had undergone comprehensive ICAO safety and security audits without any significant concerns. The delisting occurred in September 2022, and the NCAA was duly informed at that time.
