NCAA Approves Scheduled Flights at Ibadan Airport

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has approved the commencement of scheduled flight operations at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport (SLAA), Ibadan.

In a letter dated December 16, 2025, addressed to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the NCAA confirmed that it has granted a provisional interim operational permit for scheduled flights at the airport.

The approval follows major upgrades carried out by the Oyo State Government as part of efforts to transform the airport into an international facility. These upgrades include the extension and widening of the runway, improved airfield lighting, construction of a 500,000-litre aviation fuel storage facility, and the development of a new Protocol Lounge, among other projects.

According to the NCAA, the decision was reached after reviewing the updated status of safety-critical facilities, operational arrangements, and mitigation measures at the airport, alongside additional information provided by FAAN. The authority noted that it had earlier approved the airport for non-scheduled operations.

The letter stated that the approval was granted in line with the provisions of Nig.CARs Part 12, Volume I (2023).

However, the NCAA emphasized that the provisional permit is subject to strict compliance with stipulated conditions, including the full operationalisation of emergency response arrangements, before full-scale scheduled operations can continue.

The approval marks a significant milestone in Oyo State’s push to expand air transport infrastructure and boost economic activities in Ibadan and its environs.