Nigeria eyes certification of China's C919 jet for local airlines

Nigeria’s civil aviation authority is considering certifying China’s C919 passenger jet for use by the country’s airlines, the agency’s director general told Reuters, as carriers expand their fleets and ties with Beijing deepen.

The narrow-body C919, produced by Chinese state-owned planemaker COMAC, is designed to compete with Airbus and Boeing. COMAC has already held several rounds of talks with Nigeria as it seeks to open up access to the African market.

However, the company faces hurdles. Its two aircraft models lack certification from key Western regulators, while delivery schedules are already slipping. Earlier this year, the United States temporarily blocked exports of the CFM engines used in the C919 due to trade tensions.

Nigeria, with a population of 230 million, is seen as an emerging aviation market. Civil aviation chief Captain Chris Ona Najomo said the authority was weighing the months-long certification process needed for the C919 to fly domestic routes, noting its absence of Western validation.

“We’re looking at the certification of the aeroplane. That is where we have to start,” Najomo said on the sidelines of the UN aviation agency’s assembly in Montreal.

COMAC offers support to Nigerian carriers

Najomo added that COMAC had proposed maintenance and training support for Nigerian operators and was open to arranging dry leases, under which aircraft are provided without crew.

“We told them that if they can facilitate a good dry lease arrangement, that would be preferable,” he said.

Abdullahi Ahmed, chief executive of Nigerian airline NG Eagle, which currently operates three aircraft, said he would consider COMAC jets if they received certification and came with proper support.

Nigeria’s stronger compliance with the Cape Town Convention — an international treaty that simplifies leasing aviation assets — has improved its Aviation Working Group rating, boosting confidence among lessors and making newer aircraft more accessible to its 13 carriers.

While air travel remains expensive for many Nigerians, IATA data shows the average real airfare fell by 43.6% between 2011 and 2023.

At present, the C919 is only flown by Chinese airlines. COMAC’s smaller C909 regional jet is in service with three airlines in Southeast Asia.

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