… Sanusi says airline will surmount industry challenges
…plans regional operations
Posted by Sade Williams
Aero Contractors management said on Thursday it will recommence flight operations on December 5 with B737 and Dash 8 (Q- 300/400) aircraft to ten destinations, having satisfied regulatory requirements by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
It will relaunch services with five aircraft.
Recall that the airline suspended scheduled services on July 20, 2022 to enable her restructure and reposition the airline while the NCAA waded in to audit the operations.
On Wednesday, the director general of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu had said the Authority has cleared the airline for operations, adding that it did not suspend operations for safety reasons but for financial issues.
Speaking on Thursday at a press conference to announce the recommencement of operations, Captain Ado Sanusi, Managing Director of the airline said the company now has four strategic business models in order to strengthen its operations.
Sanusi, who disclosed that Aero is starting operations with a new management said it will relaunch services to Warri, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Benin, Yola, Sokoto, Kano, Asaba and Calabar.
While expressing hope that the airline will overcome the challenges of the sector, Sanusi said they are not peculiar to Aero alone, adding that the airline has learnt from its mistakes and has restrategised to relaunch services.
“The parameters have changed, we have looked inwards, we are ready to face the worst challenges ahead with a new business model”
“The airline will be operating with Boeing 737 and Dash 8 (Q- 300/400) servicing ten destinations. These destinations include; Warri, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Benin, Yola, Sokoto, Kano, Asaba and Calabar.”, he said.
Aero Contractors is commencing operations with a new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Ado Sanusi, an erstwhile Managing Director of the airline; and a new Chief Finance Officer, Mr Charles Grant.
“The airline has Four business development units, namely; the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO), the Fixed Wing airline operations, the Rotary Wing helicopter services and the Aero Training School.”, he said.
Speaking further, Sanusi said: “We are pleased and delighted to resume full services after a few months. We thank all our stakeholders who have been supportive, particularly the NCAA, our management and staff. I admit that we missed our customers dearly and we are back bigger and better to serve them better.
“We are determined to offer great travel experience to our customers during this season and beyond. We look forward to welcoming them on board.”, he added.
The Aero boss also disclosed that the airline plans to relaunch its regional operations by the last quarter of 2023, adding that it is also targeting a major share of domestic market especially at this season with the new products it plans to unveil soon.
