TheCable

FirstNation airlines has suspended its operations barely 24 hours after Aero Contractors, another airline, announced the indefinite suspension of its own operations.

Muhtar Usman, director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), announced the suspension in a statement where he also explained Aero Contractor’s absence from the aviation scene.

Usman said FirstNation 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 FirstNation had to suspend operations.

He said NCAA would 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.