The labour crisis rocking
Aerocontractors Airlines is far from over as the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority has restricted the embattled carrier to operating only three out of
its nine operational aircraft.
Aero has about 14 aircraft in its
fleet but only nine are currently in operation.
Investigations by our correspondent
revealed that rather operating all the nine functional planes in its fleet, the
crisis-ridden airline had been operating only three aircraft since its resumed
operations about six days ago.
Findings revealed that the aviation
industry regulator, NCAA, directed Aero to operate only three aircraft after
its audit of the airline’s operation showed that it had capacity to operate
only three planes following the resumption of operations.
The Acting Director-General, NCAA,
Mr. Joyce Nkemalokam, who confirmed the development in a telephone interview
with our correspondent, said the regulatory authority was constantly monitoring
Aero to ensure that things were done safely and that security was not
compromised even as the airline battled through the labour crisis.
The acting DG said, “Our officials
are on top of the situation in Aero. The number of planes they are flying now
is what they have capacity to operate. We are working with them. As they build
more capacity, they will be permitted to operate more aircraft.
“Don’t forget, it was Aero that
suspended its operations by itself initially. And now that they are back to
fly, they have to follow some safety and security procedures completely.”
The industrial dispute with its 1,300
employees had left Aero grounded for 18 days from March 13 to March 30, 2013.
The airline, however, resumed operations last Saturday following the
intervention of the Senate.
The carrier resumed after the
Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Mr. Hope Uzodinma, met with the
management, NCAA and the workers’ union in Abuja, and directed the airline to
recall the over 600 dismissed workers, who allegedly participated in protests
against a court injunction.
Investigation by our correspondent on
Thursday revealed that the crisis rocking Aero was far from over.
Although all the workers have
resumed, only a few of them have been cleared to work by the management of the
airline.
Sources close to the airline
disclosed that NCAA restricted the carrier’s operations to only three planes
because the number of cabin crew and other workers cleared to work by the
management could only cope with three planes.
Insider sources in Aero said aside
planes that were currently on maintenance abroad, no fewer than nine of its
planes were currently airworthy and operational.
A top official of Aero explained,
“The reason the remaining six planes are not working is simply because Aero
management is not ready to clear all the workers to resume work. Although the
Senate had directed that all workers should resume, the management is currently
carrying out what it called re-assessment for some workers.
“People are being asked to reapply
for the job they are currently doing before they can be allowed to work. And
when you go for the re-assessment, they give you a new condition of service
different from the one you had signed when you were employed.
“So far, only a few workers who have
accepted these conditions are being allowed to work. So, there is shortage of
cabin crew because majority of them have not signed the form for the new
condition of service. This is why NCAA is allowing them to operate only three
planes.”
The Aero spokesman said he had yet to
be briefed and, as such, did not have any comment regarding the situation.
The Aero management, however, said
the workers were opposing restructuring and re-organisation going in the
company.
The unions insist that the management
must negotiate and pay severance benefits to the workers before carrying out
any change that will lead to loss of jobs or outsourcing of current employment
opportunities.
Aero is currently experiencing what
industry observers have described as the worst crisis in its 53 years of
existence.
The crisis has affected domestic air
travel, which is currently being dominated by Aero and Arik in terms of wide
route network.
Several passengers were stranded
during the Easter rush just as many passed though hell to buy scarce flight
tickets during the period. Airfares are still on the rise as a consequence.
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