Air 26 working to resume operations

Angola's civil aviation authority (Instituto Nacional da Aviação Civil - INAVIC) has grounded local operator Air 26 until further notice citing several safety oversight anomalies, reports ch-aviation.
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Sources familiar with the matter told Angola's Valor Economico newspaper that the regulator had uncovered "procedural irregularities" during an inspection in 2016. The carrier was subsequently ordered to suspend the sale of tickets pending the resolution of INAVIC's concerns. Since then, at least six months have passed with no sign of Air 26 resuming flights.

"The company continues to be part of the companies authorised to fly, but it has to solve some issues. Operational safety is critical; there can be no negotiations about it," the INAVIC source said. "The sooner the operator corrects the anomalies, the sooner it will fly again."

Airline director Luís Arriegas said Air 26 was currently undergoing administrative and operational reforms" in order to resume operations. He also dismissed fears that the carrier had gone bankrupt following its suspension of flights.