Just two years ago, we stood at the starting line with little more than a bold idea. No aircraft. No Air Operator Certificate, not even a step-by-step manual on how to launch a business aviation company in Africa. What we did have was belief; a belief in the potential of African aviation and the determination to make something meaningful from the ground up.

We look forward to a service that would not only connect major cities but also bridge the gaps in business, innovation, and opportunity across Africa. We didn’t want to build just another aviation brand; we wanted to build one for Africa, one rooted in the continent’s needs, ambitions, and future.

That dream has just taken flight in a very real sense. With the recent award of our Air Operator Certificate (AOC), VivaJets is now officially licensed to operate commercially.

This is not limited to Nigeria; it extends across 34 African nations under the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). The AOC is more than a regulatory requirement; it is a transformative tool. It gives us the permission, the structure, and the legitimacy to do what we have always set out to do: connect Africa on African terms.

People often ask what exactly it is we do at VivaJets. “You operate jets, right?” Yes, we do, but that explanation only scratches the surface. What we’re really offering is time. We are in the business of giving time back to people who are constantly on the move, who need flexibility, who are building empires and breaking barriers. Time is a rare commodity, and we have created a service that returns some of it to our clients, allowing them to do more, experience more, and grow more.

Our mission is not just about luxury, it’s about access, about making private aviation a practical and reliable solution for African entrepreneurs, diplomats, creatives, and innovators. Through various innovations, we are introducing new ways for people to access air travel. We have intentionally made private aviation more open and more inclusive, so that it serves a broader spectrum of Africa’s movers and shakers.

Since inception, we have been unique about our intention and identity. That is why we collaborated with celebrated designer Loza Maleombho to design our crew uniforms. It was not just about aesthetics, though the results were stunning; it was about sending a message. African excellence deserves to be seen, respected, and celebrated on a global stage. From the way we fly to the way we dress, we are making the statement that Africa deserves, and can deliver world-class standards.

The AOC marks a new chapter, and with it comes the ability to fly across a vast part of the continent with commercial rights. This means faster, more direct connections between cities like Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, and Kinshasa. For the business traveler who cannot afford delays, for the government official whose schedule changes on a dime, for the artist or entrepreneur who needs to be in three countries in a week, these matters. It means real choices, real speed, and real convenience.

There is also an economic story here that is often overlooked. VivaJets’ is more than an aviation company; we are an exporter and a foreign exchange earner for the Nigerian economy. Every time one of our flights takes off between countries, the revenue we earn contributes to Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves. This is non-oil export in action. It is a sustainable, service-driven stream of foreign exchange that supports the economy without depleting natural resources.

Nevertheless, as proud as I am of our jets and our routes, the real heartbeat of VivaJets is the team behind it all. Our pilots, engineers, ground crew, logistics planners, salespeople, and customer service reps—they are the ones who make the dream work every single day. It is their skill, their energy, and their professionalism that keep us not only in the air but also ahead of the curve. When I’m asked what makes us different, my answer is always the same: it’s the people.

At the moment, our fleet has just grown into three with a recent acquisition. And by the end of this year, we’re aiming for eight. To support that expansion, we’re in the process of raising $25 million in funding. But let me be clear—this is not growth for growth’s sake. Every move we make is anchored in safety and compliance. Our operations are thoroughly vetted, not only by our internal standards but also by Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority. Our leaders in operations report both to our management and directly to the regulator, ensuring transparency and accountability at every level.

Looking ahead, we’re developing new service offerings, trying out new routes, and crafting new ideas that changes what air travel feels like in Africa. We are not just taking our business global; we are also taking the advocacy for business connectivity global. This May, VivaJets was Gold sponsor and exhibitor at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, where I advocated for the urgent dismantling of long-standing barriers within Africa’s aviation industry. Our team also provided a unique perspective on the intersection of private aviation and economic development, showcasing how mobility and connectivity can shape Africa’s financial landscape.

We’re not just building an airline, we’re building an aviation platform- one that supports Africa’s next generation of leaders, dreamers, and doers. And we’re just getting started.

Chukwuerika Achum is the CEO, Falcon Aerospace Limited.