Airline operators jettison planned services shutdown

Uba Group

Operators of Airlines in Nigeria have indicated the decision to cancel their planned suspension of flights against the earlier announcement.

The body stated that their decision followed Federal Government’s intervention and assurances that it would dialogue with the operators on lasting solutions to their challenges.

The operators expressed their decision to shut down their services in view of the astronomic rise in the price of aviation fuel.

They rescinded their decision via a statement jointly signed by their President, Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina; the Executive Director, Max Air, Alhaji Shehu Wada; the Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo; the CEO, Arik Air, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu; the CEO, Aero Contractors, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood; the MD, Azman Air, Faisal Abdulmunaf, and Chairman, Air Peace, Allen Onyema.

The statement read, “The Airline Operators of Nigeria wishes to inform the general public that further to numerous calls from the highest echelons in government with promises to urgently intervene in the crises being faced by airlines due to the astronomic and continuously rising cost of JetA1, that the AON has acceded to requests to withdraw the action for the time being while we allow for a fresh round of dialogue with the government in the hope of reaching an amicable solution.

“We have also reached this decision with the highest consideration for our esteemed customers who have been faced with uncertainty over the last few days and to enable them to have access to travel to their various destinations for the time being during the period of discussions with relevant authorities.

“In view of the above and in the interest of national economy and security considerations, AON hereby wishes to notify the general public that the earlier announced shutdown of operations on May 9, 2022 is hereby suspended in good fate pending the outcome of hopefully fruitful engagement with government.”