As part of efforts to beef up its operating aircraft, Nigeria’s oldest aviation company, Aero Contractors is set to increase the number of aircraft in its fleet from present four to six before the end of the first half of 2024.
In an interview with Daily Independent over the weekend, Capt. Ado Sanusi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Aero Contractors said that the airline’s management intended to take delivery of an additional aircraft by next month, while the other airplane would arrive from c-checks by June.
According to Sanusi, Aero Contractors presently operates three fixed wings; two B737, Dash 8 aircraft and a helicopter. Sanusi, who lamented the challenges facing operating carriers in the country, charged the government to priotise aviation and support the operating airlines. Sanusi explained that in a bid to address some of the challenges, the government should attract aircraft leasing companies into Nigeria and ensure all the challenges facing smooth operations like repatriation of funds are tackled.
“What are the hindrances of leasing companies? We need to make them comfortable and stay in the country. What are the risks involved? How can we mitigate these risks? There should be assurances that in case of any default, they will be able to take their assets as quickly and seamlessly as possible. Whatever the challenges are, we must identify them and tackle them headlong.” Sanusi also charged the government to address the leasing option challenges confronting indigenous airlines.
He wondered why the airlines would opt for wet-lease arrangement when they could operate dry lease. He explained that aircraft wet-leasing was supposed to be a short time solution of maximum of 90 days for airlines when they take out their airplanes for maintenance, but lamented that some of the aircraft are now flying for years in the country. He insisted that this would not develop the Nigerian aviation industry’s human capital, while the economy would also not benefit from such an arrangement.
