Nigerian carrier, Azman Air has suspended its operations and sends its staff on compulsory leave without pay, thus reducing the number of aircraft on domestic services in Nigeria.
This was confirmed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, which indicated that the airline took the decision after the end of its hajj operation and the grounding of its Boeing 737 aircraft.
Dana Air in May also sacked its workers without pay after NCAA suspended its operations due to safety concerns.
Industry sources said the two airlines have pushed at least 600 workers into the job market with the suspension of their operations.
The circular signed by the Human Resources Manager at Azman Air stated that only eight senior staff members were exempted from unpaid leave.
It could be recalled that in March 2021, Azman Air suspended its flight services to all destinations in Nigeria when NCAA grounded its operations over an incident and the huge debt it owed the regulatory authority.
NCAA stated then that it allowed regulators to audit the carrier to determine the cause of previous incidents and recommend solutions.
Presently, the airline is struggling with the maintenance of its Boeing 737 fleet. The airline operates a fleet of five Boeing 737s (two -300s and three -500s) and an Airbus A340-600. All of the Boeing 737 fleet is currently out of service for C-Checks at different MRO locations.
Dana Air in May disengaged its workers following the suspension of its operations after the runway excursion of one of its aircraft, which happened on landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on April 23, 2024.
The airline then issued a notice to its workers and asked them to stop work till the airline resumed operation and reengages some of them.
The workers insisted that they must be paid their salaries if the company is disengaging them.
Dana Air in a statement signed by its Head of Communications, Kingsley Ezenwa, said, “Dana Air wishes to provide an update on the ongoing operational audit initiated by the regulatory authorities.
“The audit, currently underway, is a collaborative effort between Dana Air and the authorities to ensure compliance with all necessary standards and regulations. Dana Air reaffirms its commitment to full cooperation with the authorities to facilitate a smooth and expedited resolution of the audit process.
“In light of the ongoing audit, Dana Air has made the decision to temporarily disengage some staff members pending the conclusion of the audit. This decision has been made to ensure efficient management of resources and to facilitate a thorough review of operational procedures.
“The Management of Dana Air extends its sincere appreciation to all staff members for their resilience and dedication during this period of uncertainty. It recognizes the difficulties that staff have had to endure and assures them that every effort is being made to resolve the situation promptly.”
The airline said it remains committed to providing updates and support to its staff throughout this process and while these challenges are being addressed, disclosing that it has commenced talks with lessors and are currently engaging stakeholders on the progress made so far.
“Dana Air therefore urges for calm and understanding from our very dedicated staff for their altruism and stakeholders. The Management is working diligently to address any concerns and is preparing a restart plan that will ensure the safe and efficient resumption of operations.
“Dana Air is confident that with the continued support of its staff and stakeholders, it will overcome these challenges and emerge stronger than ever,” it added.
Informed source, however, told THISDAY that Dana Air is not likely to resume flights because it had put its two equipment, Boeing 737, on sale, as NCAA permanently suspended its MD 82/83 aircraft.
The airline, THISDAY gathered, intended to come back using small body aircraft like Embraer 145, but indications show that even the later plan may have been abandoned.
