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Copyright:
©Radim Kobližka
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Aviation unions on
Thursday besieged the head office of Aero Contractors Airline at the Murtala
Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, a day after the embattled airline announced the
suspension of flight operations and placed workers on an indefinite leave.
Media
report continues:
Benjamin
Okewu, the president, Air Traffic Services Senior Staff Association, told
journalists on Thursday that the unions embarked on the measure following the
indefinite leave given to the over 1,400 workers.
The
other union whose members also stormed the headquarters of Aero Contractors is
the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).
The
airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Fola Akinkuotu, had said in a statement on
Wednesday that the decision to suspend flight operations 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 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.
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