The oldest airline in Nigeria, Aero Contractors yesterday explained why it had to use ladder instead of a gangway to disembark passengers from its aircraft.
The airline in a statement issued in Lagos by its media consultant, Mr. Simon Tumba said that the aircraft in question had operated a charter flight to Bauchi, but had problems with unserviceable equipment by the airport management in disembarking about 34 passengers from Abuja.
He hinted that the absence of this equipment propelled the airline to use a ladder against its wish to disembark the passengers.
But, an industry source confided in our correspondent that it was not the first time the airline would be using an unprofessional way to either board or disembark its passengers even at the Lagos Airport.
The source alleged that the troubled airline whose fleet depleted from 12 to five within three years was trying to minimize cost, adding that instead of paying its ground handler, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO, Plc, it at times adopts several unapproved means to render services to its clients.
However, Tumba in the statement hinted that at the time of boarding, the air stairs became functional and the passengers boarded successfully.
The statement added, “Aero wishes to state that it took adequate and safety measures for this operation, including the airport’s ground staff crew to handle the air stairs equipment in Bauchi, unfortunately it became unserviceable at the point of disembarkation.
“Although the airline crew tried to calm down the passengers to wait while the equipment was being fixed, the passengers insisted on their own volition to disembark against all safety protocol of the airline.
“Aero Contractors wishes to state that it is reviewing its safety measures with all charter operations to all airports to prevent such reoccurrence. Aero will continue to take adequate measures to ensure that its operations remain safe and secure.”
Source: http://nationalmirroronline.net
Amild drama unfolded yesterday at the Bauchi Airport when passengers used ladder to disembark from a chartered aircraft belonging to Nigeria’s oldest carrier: Aero Airlines.
It was learnt that the aircraft had problems with unserviceable equipment by the airport management in disembarking about 34 passengers from Abuja Airport.
The use of ladder to disembark passengers a source hinted is against standard aviation practices as prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on passenger facilitation.
According to the airline, at the time the 34 passengers were boarding the chartered flight at the Abuja Airport, the air stairs was functional.
The airline confirmed the incident in statement by SY & T, media consultant to the Aero Contractors. It explained “A special charter flight operated by Aero to Bauchi had problems with unserviceable equipment by the airport management in disembarking about 34 passengers from Abuja. Consequently against the airline’s wish and operation safety guideline, the passengers used a ladder to disembark.”
“Aero wishes to state that it took adequate and safety measures for this operation, including the airport’s ground staff crew to handle the air stairs equipment in Bauchi, unfortunately it became unserviceable at the point of disembarkation.
“Although the airline crew tried to calm down the passengers to wait while the equipment was being fixed, the passengers insisted on their own volition to disembark against all safety protocol of the airline”, the airline stated in the statement.
Story, comments and photo: http://thenationonlineng.net
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