Aero
Contractors Airlines on Wednesday said that it would suspend all its scheduled
services indefinitely from Thursday Sept. 1.
The airline’s Chief
Executive Officer, Fola Akinkuotu, said in a statement in Lagos that the
management decision was part of the strategic business realignment to
reposition the airline and return it to the path of profitability.
He said all staff
directly and indirectly involved in providing the services, would also proceed
on indefinite leave of absence.
“This business decision
is as a result of the current economic situation in the country, which has
forced some other airlines to suspend operation or outrightly pull out of
Nigeria.
“In the case of Aero,
the airline has faced grave challenges in the past six months, which impacted
its business and by extension the scheduled services operations,’’ he said.
Mr. Akinkuotu said the
impact of the external environment had been very harsh on the airline’s
operational performance, hence the management’s decision to suspend scheduled
services operations indefinitely effective Sept.1, 2016.
“This suspension is
pending when the external opportunities and a robust sustainable and viable
plan is in place for Aero Contractors to recommence its scheduled services.
“The implication of the
suspension of scheduled services operations extends to all staff directly and
indirectly involved in providing services, as they are effectively to proceed
on indefinite leave of absence during the period of non-services.
“We are
aware of the impact this will have on our staff and our highly esteemed
customers, hence we have initiated moves to ensure that we are able to return
back to operations within the shortest possible time, offering reliable, safe
and secure operations,’’ he said.
Mr. Akinkuotu said that
both internal and external environmental factors had made it difficult for the
airline to continue its scheduled services, leading to the management’s
decision.
He recalled that, as
part of its resolve to ensure the airline survived, unlike most other carriers
that experienced short life span in the country, Asset Management Company of
Nigeria (AMCON) had appointed Adeniyi Adegbomire as Receiver Manager in Feb. 6,
2016.
Mr. Akinkuotu also
noted that since AMCON’s intervention in Aero Contractors in 2011, it had
provided support for the airline to meet working capital requirements and fleet
expansion.
When NAN correspondent
visited the airline’s counter on Wednesday, the ticket counters at the Murtala
Muhammed Airport Terminal (MMA2) were empty.
-NAN
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