Aero Contractors ready to fly again

Aero Contractors Airlines will resume flights this week after shutting down for nearly nearly four months, according to a report in Thecable, an online publication.

The airline, which used to be industry leader, suspended operations “indefinitely” from September 1, 2016.

But insiders told the online publication that the airline will resume operations “most likely on Wednesday” after securing new investors and getting a breather.

“If things work according to plan, the staff will be recalled and addressed on Monday, IT staff will resume on Tuesday and flight operations will commence on Wednesday,” the source said.

Aero will restart by flying only three routes: Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt.

This will come as a relief to Nigerian travellers who have had their options limited since the aviation industry went into a tailspin following financial and fuel crises.

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TheCable could not confirm if the airline got foreign investors to re-start operations.

When Aero suspended operations, its CEO, Fola Akinkuotu, had said it was pursuing a “strategic business realignment” to reposition the airline and return it to the path of profitability.

Part of the statement then read, “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.

“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.

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“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…”

The news of the resumption of operations by Aero Contractors will gladden the heart of Nigerian travellers as we enter the very busy Christmas and New year festivities.