There was jubilation in Maiduguri on Monday, as Nigeria’s oldest airline, Aero contractors, launched Lagos-Abuja-Maiduguri flight operations as it promises to offer safe and reliable services to travelers from the region. Aero is one of the many airlines managed by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
The flight was welcomed with water cannon salute as the airline deployed one of the newly acquired A320 aircraft to connect passengers between Lagos and Maiduguri via Abuja,
Speaking at a short ceremony to mark the inaugural flight in Maiduguri airport, the Managing Director of the airline, Captain Abdullahi Mahmood, said the airline has taken the right decision by launching flight and has come to stay on the route having been in operations in Nigeria for more than 60 years.
He said Borno State is now home to traffic as there over 50 Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the state apart from the turnaround being witnessed through developmental programmes initiated by the governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum.
While pledging to surpass the expectations of the people by offering quality service, Mahmood said: ‘We are here today to make history after sixty-two years of operations, this is the first time Aero will be operating flight to Maiduguri. And Maiduguri is a home and State of peace.
“Aero Contractors, as you know, is an airline that stands for safety, passenger comfort and it’s called the reliable way to fly. We have come to Maiduguri, and we are going to prove that this is an airline that has come to stay and, also help to complement what the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum is doing.
“He cannot achieve all these without Aero not playing its own part, we have to be part of this development. What I can assure the people of Borno State today is that an airline has come with timely departure; safety and passenger comfort are going to be guaranteed. I can guarantee you we are going to surpass your expectations.”, he said.
He said Aero contractor was also motivated into operating flights into Maiduguri because of the zeal of the people to embrace peace, despite the challenges.
“But you can see that peace has started returning to the place. And as of today, this is the fourth airline operating into Maiduguri.
“Aero is the oldest airline in Nigeria today and this is the first time we are operating into Maiduguri and, also, the achievements of the governor have really encouraged us. Maiduguri is one of the busiest states today in Nigeria, despite all the challenges, we have almost 50 NGOs in Maiduguri and there is traffic for aviation.” he added. On competition, Mahmood noted that in every challenge, ‘there is an opportunity, everybody will play his own game. Aero is here to stay. It took Aero 62 years to come to Maiduguri and we have taken the right decision”, he added.
Representative of the governor, Prof. Isa Hussein, who is also the Chief of Staff, noted that the inaugural flight of Aero to Maiduguri on Monday, showed that peace and calm have returned to Borno, adding that four airlines now operates flights into the airport. “Maiduguri is the home of peace; peace has returned to Maiduguri. With the arrival of Aero, we have four airlines flying to Maiduguri, we have Max Air, Azman Air, Arik Air and now Aero. “And the only way to achieve a low fare regime is to create a competitive environment, so with this, the competition had started and with the record of Aero, it’s safety first and comfort, I think the people of Borno State will definitely patronise Aero. There is no doubt, Aero will get its own share of the traffic, we have so many passengers, we have so many NGOs’ workers travelling in and out of Maiduguri, we are grateful to Aero for choosing Maiduguri as one of its destinations in Nigeria,” he said.
