Aero Contractors Airlines, Nigeria’s second largest commercial
carrier, has confirmed an exclusive report of The PUNCH by announcing
the suspension of its scheduled services beginning from Thursday September 1,
2016.
On Monday, August 22, 2016, The PUNCH exclusively
reported that the airline was set to lay off some of its workers due to
its worsening financial crisis.
The report also noted that the carrier was in talks with
aviation unions on how to cut down on the number of workers in its employ,
after sources from the sector revealed that Aero was contemplating a suspension
of its scheduled flight services.
Confirming this in a statement signed by the carrier’s
management on Wednesday, Aero stated that the suspension was part of the
strategic business realignment to reposition the airline and return it to
profitability.
It stated that this “business decision”, which is a result of
the current economic situation in the country, had forced some other airlines
to suspend operations or pull out of Nigeria.
The management of the carrier said the airline had faced grave
challenges in the past six months which impacted its business and by extension
the scheduled services operations.
These factors, according to Aero, are both internal and external
environmental factors that have made it difficult for it to continue its
scheduled services.
It stated that during the period in review, Aero witnessed
epileptic operations and services to the external public that were caused by
non-alignment of fundamental issue of the business, which in some cases had
been frustrating and embarrassing to all parties including staff, customers and
indeed all stakeholders.
As part of its resolve to ensure the airline survived unlike
most other carriers that experienced short life span in the country, AMCON had
appointed Mr. Adeniyi Adegbomire SAN as Receiver Manager in February 6, 2016,
with the aim of turning the airline around.
Since AMCON’s intervention in Aero Contractors in 2011, it had
provided support for the airline to meet working capital requirements and fleet
expansion.
These were to ensure the airline remains a going concern
providing services to various clients and the general public.
But the airline noted that unfortunately, the operating
environment within and outside the Aero had hindered any possible progress
especially in the last six months when the naira depreciated against the dollar
thus making it impossible for the airline to achieve its operational targets.
It started that with these realities coupled with protracted
engagements with all relevant stakeholders, the management strenuously reviewed
and assessed options and opportunities on ensuring viability, safety and
sustainability of operations during the period with a lot of sacrifices.
The airline said, “The impact of the external environment has
been very harsh on our operational performance, hence management decision to
suspend scheduled services operations indefinitely effective September 1, 2016,
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 staffs directly and indirectly involved in providing
services as they are effectively to proceed on indefinite leave of absence
during the period of non-services.
It added, “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, which the airline
is known for.”
Source: PUNCHNG.COM
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