First Nation Airlines has technically suspended its operations in line with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) which stipulates that no airline operator shall carry out scheduled commercial operation with only one aircraft.
The minimum acceptable number is three aircraft.
The suspension of operations by First Nation is coming few hours after Aero Contractors, the oldest airline in the country, suspended its scheduled operations due to issues relating to debts and mismanagement.
First Nation Airlines suspension of flight operations was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman on Thursday.
According to Usman, First Nation is in the middle of an engine replacement programme for one of its aircraft, while another aircraft is due for mandatory maintenance as its allowable by the regulatory authority.
“In these circumstances, these airlines clearly cannot continue to undertake scheduled operations, hence the inevitable recourse to self-regulatory suspension,” the DG said.
The regulatory body dismissed the insinuations making the rounds that some airlines are winding down their operations.
He said on the contrary that these airlines were merely suspending their operations temporarily to enable them undertake certain operational overhaul and strengthen their overall operational outlay.
On Aero Contractors Limited, he said that presently the airline has only one serviceable aircraft and that this is in contradiction to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).
He said that what this means is that any airline with one aircraft is in contravention of the authority’s regulations and therefore cannot be adjudged to be capable of providing safe operation, adding that the only option available is to suspend your operations temporarily while other aircraft arrive in due course.
However, he stated that NCAA’s regulations provide a window for such operator to embark on non-scheduled operations in the interim.
He reiterated that on no account will it compromise safety and security of airline operations in the airspace.
According to him, “Every facet of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) and Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) must be adhered to with due diligence. In addition, everything has been put in place to continue to ensure compliance.”
Meanwhile, the management of First Nation, in response to the statement circulated by the NCAA, said it is currently undergoing maintenance on A319 fleet and that this maintenance exercise will be complete on or before September 15, 2016.
The airline also disclosed this in a statement made available to aviation correspondents.
According to the management, “The airline planned the maintenance action well ahead, notified passengers, and flights are currently loaded online effective September 15, 2016 – this will ensure that passengers continue to enjoy safe and reliable service that the airline is reputed for. Current foreign exchange constraint, coupled with over 70% devaluation of naira partly contributed in no small measure to this development. The airline’s plan remains on track to reinstating service as advised herein.”
First Nation is IATA IOSA certified and operates a fleet of Airbus A319.
The statement noted that it was aware of a statement by NCAA and that the authority was formally informed by the airline, adding that at First Nation, safety is its priority and that it looks forward to reinstating service shortly upon completion of current maintenance upgrade.