September 15, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has suspended Azman Air, over its failure to renew its Air Operator Certificate (AOC).
The suspension is coming few months after the NCAA, suspended the AOC of Dana Air over frequent incidents.
Azman Air, was granted AOC in May 2014, by the NCAA following a two-year-long certification process. The airline commenced flight services immediately with its inaugural flight to Kano from Lagos.
The document issued to Azman Air, allowed it to operate as a passenger, cargo, scheduled and charter flight operator. The certificate is renewed every two years in Nigeria by the NCAA.
A source close to NCAA confided that, the AOC of the airline had expired in the first quarter of this year and the regulatory agency through its inspectors had been working with the airline for the renewal process, which the airline consistently failed.
It was also gathered that before the regulatory agency suspended the operating license of the airline, the Directorate of Air Transport Regulation (DATR), a department in NCAA, had written a reminder letter to the management of Azman Air and issued it 30-days ultimatum to comply with the industry standards, but failed to comply.
This development has however, led to massive chaos at the nation’s airports as passengers who had hitherto booked with the airline to travel to various destinations are currently stranded.
At the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos Airport, passengers of the airline were stranded as they could not fly to their destinations with the airline as planned.
Mostly affected were 6:30a.m passengers of the airline from Lagos to Abuja, while its Lagos-Kano air travellers were also caught in the web of crisis.
Some of the passengers were seen at the MMA2, making frantic efforts to purchase air tickets of another airline in order to continue with their journey as planned, while others insisted on getting a refund from the airline’s counter staff, but failed.
Apart from Lagos, it was also gathered that hundreds of passengers of the airline were stranded in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna airports.
One of the affected passengers, Idris Aliyu, said the airline never informed them of the suspension of operations.
According to him, he had arrived at the airport at 5:20a.m for a 6:30am flight to Abuja, but was surprised when the counter staff of the airline told him and others that the flight had been cancelled without any cogent reason.
He said: “I came as early as possible to the airport to catch a flight to Abuja for an early morning meeting I have in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but I was surprised when I was told I cannot travel. There is so much chaos at this airport right now.
“No one was informed of this development by the airline. I think in a sane society, passengers would have been informed earlier so that they can make alternative arrangements, but that is not the case here.
“In fact, I wanted to buy another ticket to Abuja now so that I could catch up with my scheduled appointment, but the fare is outrageous. Some of them now sell their tickets at N100,000 and above and this is just a one-way ticket.”
With the suspension of Azman Air, three commercial airlines’ operations have been stopped in the last three months.
Firstly, it was Aero Contractor, who announced suspension of its operations, citing non-availability of forex and hike in cost of aviation fuel, also known as Jet A1.
Also, the NCAA announced the suspension of Dana Air over safety concerns and thereafter Azman Air over failure to renew its AOC.
