Aero Contractors, Nigeria’s oldest airline, has suspended its services, TechEconomy.ng can report.
The noticed was served on Monday by the management of the airline blaming ‘the impact of the challenging operating environment’.
Recall that the airline and aviation unions had in May this year traded words over planned shutdown of operations.
The unions at a press conference in Lagos on Monday May 16 2022, under the umbrella of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) also accused the management of the airline of planning to cut down its staff strength by 40 per cent without first negotiating terms of redundancy despite its inability to complete redundancy payment of those it asked to stay home since 2016.
But in a response, Aero Contractors described the unions’ position as ‘wild and unfounded allegations against it in running the affairs of the airline’.
Fast-forward to today, Monday July 18, the management said that due to the impact of the challenging operating environment on daily operations of Aero Contractors Company of Nig. Ltd., the airline will temporary suspend its scheduled passenger services operations with effect from Wednesday, July 20, 2022.
“This does not in any way affect the Maintenance activities of the Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO) otherwise known as AeroMRO, the Approved Training Organisation (ATO) also known as Aero Training School, the Helicopter and Charter Services operations.
“This decision was carefully considered and taken due to the fact that most of our aircrafts are currently undergoing Maintenance, resulting in our inability to offer a seamless and efficient service to our esteemed customers. We are working to bring these aircrafts back to service in the next few weeks, so we can continue to offer our passengers the safe, efficient, and reliable services that Aero Contractors is known for, which is the hallmark of Aero Contractors Company of Nig. Ltd.
“The past few months have been very challenging for the Aviation industry and the airline operators in particular. With the high cost of maintenance, skyrocketing fuel prices, inflation, and forex scarcity resulting in high foreign exchange rates. These are amongst the major components of airline operations.
“In the meantime, we are working assiduously to return to service as quickly as possible, and do assure our esteemed customers and stakeholders of our determination, that our short absence will not create any major void in the market, as we are coordinating with our business partners to ensure minimum discomfort to ticket holders.
“As members of Spring Alliance (a commercial alliance with member airlines providing mutual support in the area of operations), we are liaising with our partner airlines to minimise the impact on our esteemed customers. Our customer service team will be working to help affected esteemed customers reach their destinations.
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused to our esteemed customers and promise to return to service as soon as possible.
“We thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding at this time”, the statement reads.
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