The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has granted a Foreign Carrier Operating Permit (FCOP) to Air Algérie, with the airline’s inaugural flight on the Algeria-Nigeria-Douala route scheduled for April 6 this year
The licensing of the Algerian airline for flight operations in Nigeria, which was confirmed in a statement shared on the NCAA’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, was sequel to a high-level meeting between the Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, and the Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Mr. Hocine Mezoued, in Abuja.
With the FCOP licence, Air Algérie is allowed to operate on a newly approved route connecting Algeria, Nigeria, and Douala, Cameroon with the attendant positive implications for improved connectivity, stronger economic collaboration, and deepening the bilateral ties between the two countries..
The NCAA’s statement on its official X account reads: “The Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, today, 25th of March 2025, met with His Excellency Mr. Hocine Mezoued, the Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, to discuss enhanced bilateral cooperation in the aviation sector.
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“A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation of a Foreign Carrier Operating Permit (FCOP) to Air Algérie, the national airline of Algeria, enabling expanded connectivity, fostering economic ties, and strengthening mutual partnership. Additionally, approval was granted for a new flight route connecting Algeria-Nigeria-Douala, Cameroon.
“The inaugural flight on this route, operated by Air Algérie, is scheduled to commence on the 6th of April 2025, signifying a new era of strengthened ties and improved air travel between Nigeria and Algeria”, the regulatory authority added.
Aviation industry experts believe that the maiden Algeria-Nigeria-Douala flight scheduled for April 6, 2025, mark a major step in sub-regional aviation transport system integration to enhance trade, tourism, and cultural exchange through expanded air travel options.
