By Nuel Suji – First Nation Airways has suspended its operations announced the suspension of its operations.
The announcement is coming barely 24 hours after Aero Contractors, another airline announced the indefinite suspension of its own operations.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Muhtar Usman, who announced the suspension stated that the Airline cannot continue to schedule flight operations due to maintenance issue.
Usman said First Nation was in the middle of an engine replacement programme for one of its aircraft.
“Another aircraft is due for mandatory maintenance as is allowable by NCAA,” Usman said.
“In these circumstances, these airlines clearly cannot continue to undertake schedule operations, hence the inevitable recourse to self-regulatory suspension.”
Usman said it is against the Nigerian civil aviation regulations for airline operators to carry out schedule commercial operation with only one aircraft, the reason both Aero Contractors and First Nation had to suspend operations.
According to him, NCAA will never compromise safety and security of airlines operations in the airspace, adding that every facet of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARS) and Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) must be adhered to with due diligence.
He explained that everything had been put in place to continue ensuring compliance.
First Nation Airways resumed daily flights to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in October 2013. Its fleet consists of two Airbus A319-113s formerly owned by the Italian low-cost airline Wind Jet.
The Airline was founded and chaired by the ex-CEO of Bellview Kayode Odukoya.
It received its first three leased Airbus A320-200 aircraft in early April 2011.
The airline ceased operations in October 2012, reportedly because of problems with serviceability.
The three Airbus A320s were repossess by a lessor, the Aviation Capital Group.[
