First Nation Airlines, a domestic carrier, has suspended its operations, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has said.
A statement issued by the Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman, explained that the decision was necessitated so as to ensure that the airline carried out the required maintenance of its aircraft.
Only yesterday, Aero Contractors Airlines, Nigeria’s second largest commercial carrier, announced an indefinite suspension of its scheduled flight services and its staff with effect from Thursday, September 1, 2016.
However, Capt. Usman has debunked claims that some of the domestic airlines were shutting down their operations as they are“merely suspending their operations temporarily to enable them undertake certain operational overhaul and strengthen their overall operational outlay.”
He said: “The First Nation Airlines on its part is in the middle of an Engine Replacement Programme for one of its aircrafts. Another aircraft is due for mandatory maintenance as allowed by the regulatory authority.
“In these circumstances, these airlines clearly cannot continue to undertake schedule operations, hence the inevitable recourse to self regulatory suspension.”