Seven months on, Azman Air remains grounded, despite assurances

Seven months have passed since Azman Air suspended its flight operations, and as of today, the airline has not yet resumed its services. This unexpected suspension took place in March of this year and was attributed to a shortage of operational aircraft. The airline stated that all four of its planes were undergoing maintenance abroad, leaving them unable to continue regular flight operations.

Furthermore, on August 3, 2023, Azman Air placed its staff on “leave without pay.” Despite the airline’s initial promise to return to full operations in the near future, nearly three months have elapsed, and there are still no signs of its services being reinstated.

Azman Air had initially commenced its scheduled operations in 2014 with two Boeing 737 aircraft. Over time, their fleet expanded to a peak of seven aircraft but subsequently dwindled down to just four.

The Troubling Status of Azman Air’s Aircraft

According to information obtained, two of Azman Air’s aircraft were stranded in Turkey, while the other two remained grounded in Nigeria. The primary reason behind this predicament was the airline’s inability to access the necessary foreign exchange to perform C-checks on the four aircraft that were sent abroad for maintenance earlier in the year.

When the maintenance procedures began, the exchange rate stood at approximately N750 for one US dollar. However, since then, the value of the naira has considerably depreciated, now amounting to approximately N1,152 to a dollar. This drastic devaluation has virtually extinguished any hopes of Azman Air resuming its operations anytime soon.

Communication with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority

It was reported that Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa, the Chairman of Azman Air, had officially communicated the airline’s decision to cease operations to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). In August, the NCAA management engaged in a series of discussions with Azman Air’s management, although the details of these meetings remain undisclosed.

Furthermore, Azman Air’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC) expired in August 2023, further complicating the prospects of the airline’s prompt return to service. According to Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs), operators are granted a 90-day extension for AOC renewal or risk permanent forfeiture of the certificate. This three-month extension period is set to expire in November.

Hope on the Horizon?

Azman Air’s spokesperson, Mr. Nurudden Aliyu, clarified that the airline did not cease its operations but merely suspended them due to the inability to return its four aircraft to service. He denied the allegations of a complete cessation but confirmed that the airline had indeed suspended operations a few months ago because it could not promptly restore its four aircraft undergoing maintenance, both domestically and abroad.

Aliyu expressed assurance that the airline would resume operations before the end of October. He was hopeful that two of the airplanes stranded in Turkey would be back in service, with the remaining two following suit later in the same month. He stated, “We are not ceasing our operations. We only suspended it. We have pulled out four of our airplanes for maintenance. We had hoped that they would return immediately, but since we could not get them back, we had to send our staff on leave of absence. But we are coming back, I can assure you of that.”

Widespread Industry Challenges

Azman Air is not the only Nigerian airline grappling with financial constraints and aircraft stranded overseas. Notably, Mr. Allen Onyema, the Chairman of Air Peace, recently expressed his frustration, revealing that over 15 of the airline’s aircraft were marooned abroad. Additionally, approximately $14 million of Air Peace’s funds were tied up with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Onyema emphasized that the airline had spent a substantial sum of N78 billion on airplane maintenance performed in foreign countries. He underscored the dire situation by noting that Nigerian airlines possessed the capacity for success, provided there was a supportive government and an environment conducive to doing business.

In summary, Azman Air’s prolonged suspension of flight operations, due to the unavailability of its aircraft and other financial challenges, has raised concerns about the future of the airline. While there is a glimmer of hope in the spokesperson’s statement regarding a planned return to service, the overarching challenges faced by several Nigerian airlines highlight the pressing need for government support and an improved business environment within the aviation sector.