Nigerian airlines by Saturday will suspend commercial air travel in Nigeria, except Overland Airways that is yet to take a stand on when it would stop service.
Aero suspended operations on Thursday and would resume service on March 26, 2020. Aero also said that it would also offer its aircraft to government for the airlifting medical equipment, materials and personnel.
Air Peace will suspend operation in the mid night of Friday and plans to resume after two weeks.
Dana Air suspended operation on Wednesday for two weeks while Azman would stop operations Friday midnight and resume April 11, 2020.
Ibom Air would accommodate all its already booked passengers on any of its affected flights but would suspend flight Friday.
Max Air effective Frida March 27, 2020. It will discontinue flights until 12, 2020 and Overland Airways said it would operate all its as normal, promising to provide updates later.
Arik Air also announced a temporarily suspension of all scheduled commercial flight operations effective 23:00hrs on Friday, March 27, 2020.
The management of the airline took this decision in order to mitigate the risk of the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) to its valued customers and staff, and hopes to resume services as soon as feasible.
Customers who have confirmed tickets have been advised that they could still use their tickets when the airline resumes flight operations. Such tickets could also be modified at no extra charge.
The Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu stressed: “The safety and well-being of our valued customers is paramount at this period of health emergency. We implore everyone to keep safe and abide by all directives issued by governmental authorities.”
“We sincerely regret any inconvenience this suspension may have caused our customers.”
Captain Ilegbodu added that Arik Air would be available to support government emergency, humanitarian and charter flight requests during the period of suspension of air transport operation.
As concerted efforts are being made to stop the spread of the pandemic, Coronavirus, Nigeria’s biggest carrier, Air Peace has announced the suspension of all its flight service.
In a statement signed by its Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Toyin Olajide, Air Peace said, “It is with a great sense of responsibility that we have decided, in the best interest of our nation, our passengers and workforce, to suspend scheduled flight operations for 23 days effective 23.00hrs on Friday (an hour before midnight on Friday) the 27th day of March, 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This difficult decision was reached in order to, not only, support the efforts of the Federal Government and other stakeholders in curbing the spread of this virus in our nation but also to protect our teeming passengers and our staff from becoming victims of the pandemic.”
Nigeria’s oldest airline, Aero Contractors has offered its aircraft both fixed wing and helicopters to the federal government for airlift of relief materials, medical equipment and personnel in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
This was disclosed by the CEO of the company, Captain Ado Sanusi who said that it is the contribution of the airline in support of government’s fight against the virus and treatment of those already infected.
Sanusi said that the aircraft would henceforth be at the disposal of the Presidential Task Force for the Control of Coronavirus in Nigeria, headed by the Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria (SGF), Boss Mustapha.
The Aero CEO urged well-meaning individuals; corporate organisations and others to support the government to overcome this pandemic, which is resetting the world.
