NCAA suspends Air Nigeria's operations

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Tuesday said that it had suspended the operations of Air Nigeria owing to the strike action embarked upon by its engineers and pilots over what the protesters have called ‘poor welfare package’.

Sam Adurogboye, the NCAA’s General Manager (Public Relations), confirmed the suspension, while responding to media enquiries on the current state and performance of the airline.

“The suspension of the operations of Air Nigeria is a routine action that will to enable us (NCAA) to scrutinise the airline before allowing it to start operations again having been on strike for days. It is a normal exercise,” he said. 

The pilots and engineers of the airline had embarked on the weeklong strike to press for improved conditions of service.

Isaac Balami, the National President of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), also said that he is aware of the suspension placed on Air Nigeria’s operations by NCAA.

“This will allow NCAA to carry out proper auditing of Air Nigeria, as the airline’s pilots and engineers are yet to receive their outstanding salaries.

“We called off the strike embarked upon by NAAPE members in Air Nigeria last week to allow the union and the management to resume negotiations on the contentious issues that led to the strike,” Mr. Balami said.

The ticketing and boarding counters of Air Nigeria within the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, were empty on Tuesday.