The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on Monday said that it supported the indefinite suspension placed on the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of First Nation Airways.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended the airline’s licence for carrying out unauthorised and illegal operations.
The agency said that the suspension would take effect from May 11.
General Secretary of NUATE, Olayinka Abioye, told NAN that the suspension of the airline’s AOC, which came albeit belatedly, was very good for the industry.
He alleged that this was because the airline was operating with only one aircraft.
“This has been long expected. Operating one aircraft as a scheduled flier is a violation of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation (Nig.CARS) 2015,’’ Abioye said.
He said the airline ought to have focused on charter services alone instead of engaging in the illegality of commercial flight operations without the prerequisite requirement.
Mr Abioye urged the NCAA to live up to its statutory responsibilities of regulating the industry by not allowing external forces to influence its decisions.
General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, had on Sunday confirmed the suspension of the airline’s operations.
Mr Adurogboye said the suspension was conveyed to the airline through a letter with reference no. NCAA/DG/CSLA/RM/1-06/18/2304 and dated May 11, 2018.
He said it was signed by the Director General of NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman.
