Stakeholders have attributed closure of airlines to lack of government support, high cost of JetA1, multiple taxation, forex issues, lack of corporate governance, infrastructure deficit, harsh operating business environment, multiple Designations granted

Overland, United Nigeria Airlines, Green Africa. Seven of these carriers have crossed the 10-year ceiling, a period whereby most of the airlines usually go under.

For instance, 63-year old Aero Contractors, which was established in 1959, is still flying. Also Overland, Arik Air, Dana Air, Max Air and Azman, also established in 2002, 2004, 2008, 2008 and 2010, respectively, are still in the skies. Others are Ibom Air, Green Africa, United Nigeria Airlines, which were established a few years ago. However, aviation experts have expressed worry over the development in the aviation industry; which they said signalled a bleak future for the industry in Nigeria. In what looked like the last traces of airlines" closure, First Nation which started operations in 2011 suddenly ceased operations in 2018, seven years after.

Most recent is that of Medview Airlines which commenced operations in 2007. The airline laid off 90% of its employees between November 2017 and June, 2018. It finally suspended international flight operations in April 2018. As of August, 2019 Medview shutdown all operations, just as the company promised to bounce back soon.

Catalogue of Moribund Airlines

In the last 50 years, quite a number of airlines have operated in the country, some of which are no longer operational. Some of these moribund airlines include: Nigeria Airways which commenced operations in 1971 but later ceased operations in 2003. African International Airways which commenced operations in 1971 also shut down in 1972; ADC Airline was founded in 1984 and ceased operations in 2006.

Two major airlines, Bellview Airlines and Chanchangi, ceased operations in 2010 and 2017, respectively. Both started in 1992 and 1994.

Okada Air commenced operations in 1982 and ceased operations in 2002, while Sosoliso Airlines started in 1994 and stopped operating in 2006.

Others are Capital Airlines, Central Airlines, African Trans Air, Afrijet Airlines, Afrimex, Air Atlantic Cargo, Air Nigeria, Albarka Air, Al-Dawood Air, Amed Air, Amako Air, Arax Airlines, Axiom Air, Barnax Air, Capital Airline, Central Airlines, Chrome Air Service, Dasab Airlines, Earth Airlines and EAS Airlines, among others.

The rest are Flash Airlines, Freedom Air Services, Fresh Air, GAS Air Nigeria, Hamsal Air, Hamzair, Harco Air Services, IAT Cargo, Intercontinental Airlines, Kabo Air, Mangal Airlines, Meridian Airlines, etc.

Stakeholders' Views

Stakeholders attribute the closure of airlines to lack of government support, high cost of JetA1, multiple taxation, forex issues, lack of corporate governance, infrastructure deficit, harsh operating business environment, multiple Designations granted foreign airlines amongst others.

To others, aviation is seen as an industry that is over-regulated, a situation that puts the operators in tight corners.

On the aspect of regulation, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt Musa Nuhu has repeatedly emphasised that as a regulator, the agency will continue to do its best to see that the airlines are regulated accordingly, and not just out of business.

According to Nuhu, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority will not compromise in the enforcement of safety standards, regulatory requirements and SARPs in conformity with all regulatory requirements and ICAO’s Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in the initial issuance and renewal of all Air Operators Certificate (AOC) irrespective of the personality or and organization involved. NCAA will continue to operate within its mandate to the safe, secure and efficiency of the industry as enshrined in the 2006 Civil Aviation ACT".

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com that beat market expectations.

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