FirstNation shifts resumption of operations

FirstNation Airways has postponed resumption of its flight operations, earlier scheduled for Thursday.

Officials at the airline’s ticket stand at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Lagos, said operations might now commence on Saturday.

FirstNation suspended operations on August 17, attributing the development to the need for the aircraft in its fleet to undergo engine maintenance.

Quoting a reliable source, NAN said the equipment needed to fix the air planes were recently released by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

“The airline had anticipated that all customs formalities would have been done last week Friday, before the Sallah holidays,” the agency quoted the source as saying.

“It is hoped that the team of engineers would finish work on the engines before September 16, as the airline plans to resume operations immediately after the engines are fixed.’’

On September 6, Chimara Imediegwu, FirstNation’s director of flight operations, told journalists that a team of engineers were coming into the country to service the planes.

Imediegwu debunked the claim that the airline was on the verge of folding up, saying it voluntarily grounded the aircraft at enormous cost to await the arrival of the manufacturer’s team.

“The FirstNation management planned well ahead and kept the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) informed of the progress on the maintenance of its aircraft,” Imediegwu had said.

“We notified passengers and flights are currently loaded online effective form September 15.

“This will ensure that passengers continue to enjoy safe and reliable services that the airline is reputed for.”

Arik Air resumed operations on Wednesday after it suspended its flight operations for 24 hours, while Aero Contractors is yet to announce its resumption date.

The aviation industry is feeling the effect of the current economic crisis.