The Aero MRO facility operated by Aero Contractors Limited is emerging as a critical solution to the high cost of aircraft maintenance in West and Central Africa. The Director General, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur, said the facility will effectively service all commercial aircraft approved for maintenance within the sub-region. According to him, the availability of Aero MRO directly influences airline operating costs and, ultimately, passenger airfares.
Rev. Arthur made the remarks after a guided tour of the aircraft maintenance facility located at the Aero head office, General Aviation Terminal, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Meanwhile, he linked the long-standing practice of ferrying aircraft to Europe or the United States for maintenance to rising ticket prices across the region. Therefore, he described the presence of a fully functional Aero MRO within West Africa as both strategic and timely.
The Director General was visibly impressed by the scope of infrastructure and technical capacity available at Aero MRO. After inspecting various sections of the facility and interacting with technical personnel, he said, “This is unique by all standards. And I least expected to see what we have all witnessed today, especially from this part of the continent.”
In addition, Rev. Arthur explained that many passengers underestimate how aircraft maintenance affects airline economics. He said, “Many of us out there have no idea how cost of aircraft maintenance affects the overall cost of operation, which eventually translates to the cost of air ticket. This is because it is not just the fuel that is used to fly, but the cost of maintaining, repairing, and overhauling the aircraft.” He added that when such facilities are unavailable within a defined geographical area, operational expenses rise significantly.
According to the GCAA Director General, the absence of nearby maintenance facilities forces airlines to incur additional costs, which are eventually passed on to passengers. He explained that ferrying aircraft abroad increases expenditure on fuel, crew allowances, navigation charges, and extended aircraft downtime. However, the presence of Aero MRO reduces these pressures by shortening maintenance cycles and allowing airlines to return aircraft to service faster.
“If such a facility is not readily available within a certain geographical precinct, it adds more to the cost of the airline’s operations and business. And which eventually will be translated to the paying passenger,” he said. Therefore, he noted that a nearby Aero MRO helps airlines save money while improving fleet availability and operational reliability across the region.
ECOWAS, Ghana, and Strategic Use of Aero MRO
Rev. Arthur described the Aero MRO facility as a blessing not only for Nigeria but also for neighbouring ECOWAS states. He said, “And so, we as Ghana and other neighbouring states, especially in the ECOWAS region, I believe that it is a great blessing to have this facility being operated, owned and managed by Aero Contractors. It is a really good news to celebrate and to promote.”
Confirming that Ghana is in the process of establishing a national carrier, he said the country intends to patronise Aero MRO. “I think that we should celebrate the existence of Aero MRO and encourage airline to patronise it. Because it is in patronising it that they can also expand and offer more,” he said. He further noted that Nigeria was the first country he visited after his appointment confirmation.
Aero Contractors’ MRO Vision and Expansion Drive
In his opening remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors Limited, Captain Ado Sanusi, traced the airline’s evolution from oil and gas operations to scheduled services and aircraft maintenance. He said Aero Contractors was established in 1959 and later became the first to perform C-checks on Boeing 737 Classic aircraft in West and Central Africa.
“We are the first again to perform C-check on Boeing 737 Classic in West and Central Africa and since then we have been operating our maintenance facility, providing services to airlines within West Africa and beyond,” Captain Sanusi said. He added that the company has secured approvals from several countries and is pursuing EASA and FAA approvals to expand Aero MRO into base maintenance, while also planning a return to Accra operations.
