Dana Air (9J, Lagos) is set to resume commercial flight operations after it completed its AOC recertification drive with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

"Re-certification in Nigeria’s aviation industry is a standard practice conducted every two years by the NCAA and during the period, an airline’s operation is totally reviewed from groundhandling to quality assurance and particularly safety standards and we are glad to have scaled this rigorous process," Media and Communications Manager, Kingsley Ezenwa, said in a statement.

The Nigerian carrier currently operates an all-McDonnell Douglas fleet of one MD-82 (active) and four MD-83s (of which two are active while the other two are undergoing maintenance).

Dana Air will, next year, begin acquiring more aircraft as part of its strategic route and fleet expansion program. Chief Operating Officer Obi Mbanuzuo told ch-aviation in an emailed statement that both the B737-700 and B737 Classics are being considered. Talks are, however, still underway with bankers/financiers over the renewal plan.

The airline had planned to trial the type with the wet-lease of a B737-700 from ASKY Airlines (KP, Lomé). As previously reported, the Boeing narrowbody would have been deployed on Lagos-Abuja flights from September onwards only for the deal to fall through in the face of intense opposition from other Nigerian carriers.