Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have expressed its displeasure over a statement credited to the Chairman Senate committee on Aviation, Sen. Smart Adeyemi on flight delays and cancellations by domestic airlines in the country.
Adeyemi was reportedly said during a joint oversight visit of the national Assembly committees of Aviation to Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that domestic airlines delay passengers for four – nine hours, adding that; “Should the local carriers fail to sit up, foreign airlines would be invited to operate domestic flights in the country.”
AON which described the statement as uncharitable and unhelpful, stated, “such comments only served to aggravate sentiments and send out the wrong message to passengers and the general public.”
The body of airline operators in Nigeria which regretted that its members have to engage in flight delay or cancellation said such practices are counter productive to their set goals as operators.
“AON would like to state unequivocally that such comments only serve to aggravate sentiments and send out the wrong message to passengers and the general public.
“Commercial airlines globally, Nigeria inclusive, are set up with strict adherence to flight times. These schedules are put in place not only for the benefits of customers but also to allow the airlines maximize the use of their aircraft in order to meet up with their laid out targets over a period of time and ensure their safety and sustainability.
“It is therefore not in the interest of any airline, whether in Nigeria or anywhere else, to delay or cancel flights as this has severe financial and image consequences. For these reasons, delays and cancellations are therefore the last thing any airline wants,” AON insisted.
The body of airline operators which gave 16 factors that could result in flight delay or cancellation however said majority of the causes of flights delays or cancellations are outside the controls of the airline involved.
“While flight delays and cancellations occur all over the world, it is however instructive to note that in Nigeria, 80 percent of the causes of delays and cancellations are due to factors that are neither in the control of airlines nor caused by them,” AON explained.
According to AON, some of the more prevalent causes of delays and cancellations but are by no means limited to the following factors are: Weather, inadequate aircraft parking space due to congested Aprons, restrictions caused by Sunset Airports, VIP movements, Frequent Bird Strikes and Foreign Object Damage (FOD).,
Besides these primary causes of delays and cancellations in the domestic airline system highlighted above, AON stated that there are other ‘systemic’ issues that limit the ability of domestic airlines to operate seamlessly and efficiently. Some of the factors include Unavailability and ever rising cost of Aviation Fuel – JetA1, Unavailability of . Inadequate and
AON therefore called on members of the public to note that delays caused by any (or a combination) of the above factors to a single flight in an airline’s flight schedule, also has a correspondingly serious impact on virtually all the other flights planned on the network for that day.
It said, “Simply put, IT IS A RIPPLE EFFECT, which airlines do their utmost best to manage within the circumstances and the operational environment.”
The AON in the statement endorsed by ten of its members, therefore humbly solicited the awareness and understanding of the general travelling public to the above issues as its member airlines continue to work hard together to get passengers to their destinations safely and expeditiously as possible.
The member airlines who endorsed the statement are: Alhaji Yunusa S. Abdulmunaf, Chairman, Azman Air (President) Barr. Allen Onyema, Chairman, Air Peace (Vice President), Alhaji Shehu Wada, Company Secretary, Max Air; Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines; Capt. Mfon Udom, MD/CEO, Ibom Air; Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, MD/CEO, Arik Air; Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood, MD/CEO, Aero Contractors; Alhaji Faisal Abdulmunaf, MD, Azman Air; and Capt. Edward Boyo, MD/CEO, Overland Airways other are, Mr. Afolabi Babawande, MD/CEO, Green Africa, and Mr. Sukh Mann, Deputy CEO, Dana Air
