…..threatens to downsize, appeals to parties to sheath sword
Airlines operating from the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) are groaning as millions of naira have been lost following the industrial dispute between Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), and three unions in the sector.
Dana Air whose operations have been affected says it has lost over a N100million to the closure of the terminal.
The airline Communications Manager, Mr. Kingsley Ezemwan in a statement said if this lingers, the airline might be forced to downsize to help them stay afloat in the business.
“For now, we have lost over N100m to the ongoing action and losing such money in an industry where airlines are still grappling with a myriad of challenges is unacceptable and disappointing to say the least. We do not know how the situation will be in the coming days and we might have no other option that to downsize if the action stretches for too long”.
He said while they have temporarily relocated their flight operations to the the General Aviation terminal (GAT), run by FAAN, they were apprehensive that the terminal might not been able to handle the additional airlines that have come in due to the challenges in the MM2.
“Our worst fear however is, if the terminal will be able to process the number of passengers when there is a coincidence in flight schedule with over 8 airlines having to operate from the General Aviation Terminal at the moment”.
The airline appealed to their customers to bear with them as efforts were on to ensure they were comfortable and their needs responded to appropriately.
“While we have been engaging our guests who are on our future flights seeing that the industrial action entered Day 2 yesterday, we appeal to the parties involved to resolve the dispute in consideration of the passengers for whom we are all in the industry to serve. Without the passengers, there won’t be any airline, regulator or industry and we believe they shouldn’t suffer for what they did not contribute to”, he added.
“While we respect the rights of both parties to engage each other based on extant laws, we call on all concerned to intervene and save the industry from further crises”.
