6th September, 2012
A day after Nigeria’s Federal Government lifted the suspension of Dana Air, the airline has not been notified, P.M.NEWS learnt early Thursday.
The government on Wednesday said in a statement that Dana Air, whose plane crashed on Sunday, 3 June, killing more than 150 people, was free to resume flight operations.
The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, announced the lifting of the suspension in a statement, signed by the Special Assistant to the Minister, Mr Joe Obi, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The statement said that the lifting of the suspension followed the Federal Government’s satisfaction with the air-worthiness of the airline’s planes after a rigorous technical, operational and financial audit of the company.
“By this development, DANA Airlines is free to resume its normal commercial flight operations,” the statement said.
But Dana Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Tony Usidamen, said the company had not officially heard from the Ministry of Aviation or the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.
“We have not been officially notified. We also heard about the resumption in the media. We are still waiting,” Usidamen said.
The airline’s Air Operator’s Certificate, AOC, was suspended on 4 June, a day after the tragic crash, reportedly to investigate the causes of the crash. Preliminary investigations released after the crash did not indict the airline.
Meanwhile, Arik Air and world renowned aircraft maintenance service provider, Lufthansa Technik of Germany, have sealed a new partnership deal that aims at boosting the safety of Nigeria’s largest airline.
The two organisations, Arik Air said, agreed Wednesday to strengthen a partnership first consummated about five years ago.
The deal was sealed at Arik Corporate Headquarters in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
“Under the new partnership, Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cityline will continue to provide technical support to Arik Air in the areas of line maintenance, base maintenance, materials and pool parts among others for the next five years.
“Lufthansa Technik is also to assist Arik Air in the area of personnel training and the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Nigeria,” said Banji Ola, Arik Air spokesperson.
The leader of the Lufthansa team who is the Sales and Marketing Director, Mr. Clemens Schrettl, was quoted as saying that he was impressed with the outcome of the meeting, describing the deliberations as fruitful.
“Lufthansa is happy with the partnership we have had with Arik in the last five years and this is why we are here today to renew that cooperation and seek further areas of cooperation with the airline. We are looking at taking this partnership to the next level,” Arik Air quoted Mr. Schrettl as saying.
Arik Air Executive Vice President/Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue, who led the airline’s team to the meeting, thanked Lufthansa for their technical support over the years and looked forward to exploring new areas of cooperation and strengthening of existing relationship.
“Our association with Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cityline has been of great advantage in the maintenance of our young aircraft fleet. It also underscores our commitment to the safety of our guests at all times,” Ndulue was quoted as saying.
—Simon Ateba