Ahead of recommencement of operations from December 5th, 2023 Aero Contractors, Nigeria’s oldest aviation company says its hiatus has given time to reflect and analyze the mistakes made in the past with an intent of not repeating the same ever again.Â
The airline has equally announced a deployment of six aircraft consisting of Boeing 737 and Dash 8 (Q- 300/400) to service its ten restart destinations which include; Warri, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Benin, Yola, Sokoto, Kano, Asaba and Calabar with a firm assertion that it would embark on aggressive growth in 2023 to bring Aero back to its rightful place and capture majority of the market share.
Aero Contractors had voluntarily suspended scheduled services on July 20, 2022 to enable it restructure and reposition with its new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Ado Sanusi. READ ALSO: Aero Contractors suspends scheduled passenger operations over harsh operating conditions
Sanusi said,” We have studied what we have done before, we have looked at what caused the failures of the past and we are very determined not to make the same mistakes and to expect different results. We are very determined and my team is very experienced in analyzing what happened before and I believe that is why it took us a little longer to come back because we were studying to make sure when we launched, we launched differently. And we are confident the mistakes of the past would not repeat themselves.
Sanusi who spoke further on the restart said,” The new improved aero Contractors is structured with four strategic business units and these four business units will support each other. We have
the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO), which you are all aware of, we have improved it and are doing a lot of extension to look into other aircraft types, NG for instance and we are looking at Embraer products, probably Airbus for maintenance.
“We are looking at the Fixed Wing airline operations,We are also lo the Rotary Wing helicopter services. Rotary wing we intend to revitalise that business with more helicopters because we believe there is still some future in fossil fuel exploration so we will do some investment and get more helicopters to revive that charter.
He also said Aero was looking at the strategic business of training, the Aero Training School and that it would cater for training for aero personnel as well as third party.
Aero Contractors is commencing operations with a new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Ado Sanusi, an erstwhile Managing Director of the airline; and a new Chief Finance Officer, Mr Charles Grant .
In an earlier message, the Chief Imam of Adangba Central Mosque, Idimu; Sheik Abdulrahman Sulaiman Adangba advised the airline management and staff to consciously work to save the airline in what he called its second and final coming.
He stated” When you join hand you bond, when you bond you grow and when you grow you fly together. Do not be the stumbling block to the wheel of progress for Aero Contractors and for Management ensure the staff are satisfied as staff make the airline work or crumble according to their attitude.
A former Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) Dr. Harold Demurem who was on ground commended Aero for voluntarily withdrawing services and it’s restart stating that aviation business is going through something new.
From pricing and availability of Jet fuel to Forex difficulty, Dr Demurem admitted that it was a tough business especially as it was dollar denominated and prices keep going up.
He however said since he was aware of Aero in 1976 it still holds the record of not having any major accidents and wished the airline continuity in that.
“The business will not flutter, Aero will not fail, you will fly and you will fly safe,” he said.
There was prayer by the Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Rt Rev. Dr James O. Odedeji and Dean of the Cathedral, Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ven. Ebenezer Adewole, at the relaunch
