Aero Contractors is back in the air after more than 4 months out of action
Aero Contractors is Nigeria's oldest active aviation company. In February 2016 when it was floundering, it was taken over from its shareholders (the Ibru family) and placed under the umbrella of the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON). Since then, its profitability ambitions have been met with operational challenges that threaten its sustainability.
Aero Contractors will resume commercial flights next week on Monday, December 5, 2022. The Nigerian private carrier, which mainly serves the domestic market, made this known in an announcement on its Twitter page.
The Lagos-based airline had suspended regular operations on July 20 due to the unavailability of its fleet, most of which is under maintenance. But also because of the difficult operating environment marked by "high maintenance costs, soaring fuel prices, inflation and foreign exchange scarcity.
To mitigate the disruption, Aero Contractors had been diverting its passengers to flights of other Spring Alliance member airlines. The Spring Alliance, which comprises Air Peace, Azman Air, United Nigeria Airline, Arik Air, Aero Contractors and Max Air, allows Nigerian carriers to support each other operationally.
According to Ch-aviation's advanced module, Aero Contractors' fleet includes: a 737-400 leased from SKY Leasing; three B737-500s leased from Oceanic Capital; a DHC-8-Q200 owned by the Cross River State Government in Nigeria; and a DHC-8-Q300 leased from CHC Helicopters International. In August last year, it signed a partnership agreement with Umza Xpress to operate its Dash8-400 fleet - the new virtual carrier, linked to Mohammed Abubakar, owner of Umza Farms, is expecting five of the aircraft.
During the suspension of its scheduled flights, Aero Contractors continued its maintenance (AeroMRO), training (Aero Training School) and helicopter charter services.
