Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
AERO CONTRACTORS Airlines has announced the resumption of its scheduled services across the country from Wednesday December 21, 2016 after a near four-month self-imposed suspension, which was embarked upon as a strategic business realignment to reposition the airline and return it to the part of profitability.
Aero is re-launching schedule services to Lagos, Abuja, Warri and Port Harcourt, using its Boeing 737-400/500 and the Dash8-Q400, with the expectation that as more aircraft return to service, more routes will be reopened. Confirming the resumption of operations, the Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said: “We are delighted to inform our esteemed customers that our schedule operation is back. Full flights will commence on Thursday December 22, 2016 with consistent passenger demand despite the suspension of schedule services. This patronage reinforces the strength of our brand and the quality of our service”.
“We are aware of the impact the four-month suspension had on our staff and our highly esteemed customers. Hence our move to return to operations is to continue to offer the most reliable, safe and secure operations, which the airline is renowned for.
“We urge our passengers with existing tickets prior to the suspension to contact our Ticket Desks/Call Centre to rebook their tickets free of charge. However, those who would prefer a refund may send in their refund requests from the 9th of January, 2017.”
Aero is Nigeria’s oldest aviation company with 57 years flying experience.
Meanwhile, calm has been restored between the Aviation Unions and Arik Air by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) who brokered a truce between both parties today.
As a result, the airline has commenced full-scale operations to all their domestic and international destinations.
The Regulatory Authority had to intervene to avert the impending chaos, the strike if allowed to linger would have brought to the huge volume of passengers who are travelling for the yuletide and end of the year celebrations.
The Airline and the Unions were summoned to the Aviation House, Conference Room of the NCAA where very fruitful deliberations were held with the NCAA as the moderator
There were various resolutions reached which are contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting.
Arik Air and representatives of all the unions including NCAA signed the communiqué with the understanding that all agreed issues will be carried out.
Arik chairman however thanked the Honourable Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, the Director General of the NCAA, Capt Muhtar Usman, Capt Sidi Abdullahi Director of Training and Operations[DOT], other management staff of NCAA present and all the Union officials for their intervention and amicable resolution of the crisis.
