Nigeria’s Dana Airlines has been grounded with immediate effect after getting into financial difficulties, the country’s civil aviation authority announced on July 21, 2022.  

In a statement released on Twitter,  the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said the decision to suspend Dana Airlines’ Air Transport License (ATL) and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) indefinitely is the result of a financial audit carried out on the airline by the Authority. 

“The decision is the outcome of a financial and economic health audit carried out on the Airline by the Authority, and the findings of an investigation conducted on the Airline’s flight operations recently, which revealed that Dana Airlines is no longer in a position to meet its financial obligations and to conduct safe flight operations,” said the NCAA in the statement, which was signed by Director General Captain Musa Nuhu.  

“The NCAA acknowledges the negative effect this preemptive decision will have on the Airline’s passengers and the travelling public and seeks their understanding, as the safety of flight operations takes priority over all other considerations,” the statement continued. 

Dana Airlines is a privately owned domestic airline in Nigeria. The airline commenced its flight operations on November 10, 2008, and operated routes from its hub at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos to destinations such as Abuja, Port Harcourt and Uyo.  

The airline’s fleet comprises Boeing McDonnell 83, Boeing B737-300 and Bombardier Learjet 45XR aircraft.