After close to four month of self-imposed suspension, which was embarked upon as a strategic business realignment to reposition the airline and return it to the part of profitability, Aero Contractors Airlines is to resume scheduled services across the country from Wednesday, December 21 and full flights operations Thursday, December 22, 2016
The Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, who confirmed the decision to commence operations, said Aero is re-launching schedule services to Lagos, Abuja, Warri and Port Harcourt, using its Boeing 737-400/500 and the Dash8-Q400, with the expectation that as more aircraft return to service, more routes will be reopened.
According to Akinkuotu, “We are delighted to inform our esteemed customers that our schedule operation is back. Full flights will commence on Thursday December 22, 2016 with consistent passenger demand despite the suspension of schedule services. This patronage reinforces the strength of our brand and the quality of our service”.
He continued, “We are aware of the impact the four month suspension had on our staff and our highly esteemed customers. Hence our move to return to operations is to continue to offer the most reliable, safe and secure operations, which the airline is renowned for.”
He urged passengers with existing tickets prior to the suspension to contact our Ticket Desks/Call Centre to rebook their tickets free of charge.
He however advised those who would prefer a refund may send in their refund requests from January 9, 2017.
Aero is Nigeria’s oldest aviation company with 57 years flying experience.
Recalled that Aero suspended its scheduled services indefinitely from on Thursday, September 1, 2016.
Akinkuotu had said in a statement in Lagos that the management decision was part of the strategic business realignment to reposition the airline and return it to the path of profitability.
The airline, he said that 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.
Akinkuotu stated that 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.
According to him, “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.”
