Punto Azul (Malabo) says it has secured a revised Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from Equatorial Guinea's civil aviation authority (Autoridad Aeronáutica de Guinea Ecuatorial - AAGE).
As part of recertification and compliance with amended local legislation requiring the airline to move from leased to owned aircraft, Punto Azul has begun the process of transferring its two E145s from the South African to the Equatoguinean registry. Thus far, ZS-DFB (cn 145244) has become 3C-MAC.
"Since launching its operations last year, the airline has been operating a full wet lease operation supported by NAC Charter (NTN, Johannesburg Lanseria) of South Africa," the carrier said in a statement. "By issuing the new AOC to Punto Azul and registering its aircraft under Equatorial Guinea registration 3C–MAC, the authorities have certified that the airline is fit, willing and able to further its business within the commercial aviation sector in the country."
Launched in 2010, Punto Azul serves Bata and Malabo locally with regional services to Accra and Douala. Plans are in the pipeline to launch flights to the Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria among other key Central and West African destinations. Currently, Punto Azul utilizes its spare capacity by running charter operations.
