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.
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.
Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility
Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.
TEXT AD: To place an advert here . Call Willie - +2348098788999
JOIN THE CONVERSATION