Aero Contractors has announced that it would indefinitely suspend passenger flight operations beginning Wednesday, July 20.
In a statement issued on Monday, the airline’s management said the decision was a result of the challenging operating environment it faced on a daily basis.
The airline said the situation was made worse because some of its planes were undergoing maintenance and we are not available for use.
“Due to the impact of the challenging operating environment on our daily operations, the management of Aero Contractors Company of Nig. Ltd. wishes to announce the temporary suspension of its scheduled passenger service operations from Wednesday, July 20, 2022,” the airline said.
However, the airline said its decision does not affect its maintenance and training services, as well as helicopter and charter operations.
“The decision was carefully considered and was made due to the fact that the majority of our aircraft are currently undergoing maintenance, resulting in our inability to offer efficient and seamless service to our esteemed customers,” he said.
“We are working to get these aircraft back into service in the coming weeks so that we can continue to offer our passengers the safe, efficient and reliable services that Aero Contractors is known for, which is the hallmark of Aero Contractors Company. of Nig. . Ltd,” the airline said.
challenges
According to the airline, the last few months have been very challenging for the aviation industry due to the high cost of maintenance, fuel, inflation and shortage of foreign exchange resulting in high exchange rates, which are among the main components. of airline operations.
As members of the Spring Alliance, a trade alliance with member airlines that provide mutual support in the area of operations, the airline said it was in contact with partner airlines to minimize the impact on its valued customers and that its customer service team will work to help those affected. customers arrive at their destinations.
Meanwhile, Aero said: “We are working hard to return to service as quickly as possible, and we assure our esteemed customers and stakeholders of our determination, that our brief absence will not create any major gaps in the market, as we are coordinating with our business partners to ensure minimal inconvenience for ticket holders.”
The news comes days after Ibom Air said its passengers will experience flight delays in the coming weeks due to aviation fuel shortages and the closure of the domestic runway at Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.
Domestic airline operators in the past three months have lamented the surge in jet fuel and have repeatedly threatened to halt operations.
Airlines had previously increased their base flight fare to N50,000 and above since February this year, with many Nigerians criticizing the move.