The management of Aero Contractors has come out strongly to deny denied reports by one hatchet journalist of its plans to close operations. Aero stated that the airline is taking measures to continue operation despite the daunting challenges all airlines in the country are currently facing.In a statement by the airline in response to the obviously malicious report anchored by one Chinedu Eze, Aero said the discussion focused on the challenges facing all airlines in the industry, which is common and has been addressed on numerous occasions by the Association of Nigerian Airlines (AON). Aero, which is under the receivership of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is not alone in facing the challenges faced by airlines globally after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The statement added, “These include high cost of aviation fuel, high foreign exchange rate, high maintenance cost, inflation and low purchasing power of the traveling public following the increase of fares. Like many airlines in Nigeria, Aero Contractors have been operating daily, and facing the challenges squarely.
“We categorically deny any plan to close operations as the airline is proactively taking necessary measures and strategy to continue operation and ensure a great travel experience to our highly esteemed customers. Aero Contractors has one of the best Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MROs) in West and Central Africa and is Nigeria’s oldest aviation company with capacity to offer both scheduled airline services and maintenance for third party, licensed in over three countries.”
When contacted for comments, Jude Nwauzor, Head, Corporate Communications Department at AMCON told our correspondent that what is important is that the management of Aero has dismissed the mischievous report. He said the journalist who anchored the report in the first place remains one of the knowledgeable aviation journalists in the country who should even know better than the ordinary citizens on developments in the sector.
Rather then join issues with the media report, Nwauzor said: “I think we should as media practitioners in Nigeria pay more attention to developmental journalism rather than get involved in reports and narratives that would further destroy the already embattled economy of the federal republic of Nigeria. It is no news that the aviation business the world over is battling to bounce back after the setback it suffered as a result of the pandemic, which is not peculiar to Aero Contractors or Nigerian airlines alone.
“Therefore, any journalist who is interested in the development of the Nigerian aviation sector, or the Nigerian economy for that matter should rather concern him or herself with ways to ensure that the economy does not dip further after what it suffered as a result of the pandemic and all manners of economic depression, which the country is still battling till date. But the good news is that irrespective of the challenges posed by economic hardship in the country, the capable management at Aero is not giving up on delivering for the Nigerian flying public those qualities for which the airline is associated with as the oldest airline in Nigeria.”
