Aero Contractors lay off 900 staff

A Nigerian Airline company, Aero Contractors Nigeria Limited, has fired 900 of its employees.

In a statement released by Simon Tumba, the airlines media consultant, the airline which was temporarily shut down in October last year but resumed operation in December, 2016, had about 1500 work force.

Tumba said the carrier has been struggling with paying of salaries and servicing the overhead cost of these worker. He says this is unsustainable for the air company.

“The issuance of notification of redundancy is a business decision that will ensure Aero’s survival. 

"The current situation where over a thousand people are basically not engaged due to lack of serviceable aircraft is not sustainable for the airline.

“The huge monthly salary associated with a bloated workforce will eventually kill the airline, which is not the intention of the current government.

“This decision will immediately reduce the whopping operational cost, which has been stifling Aero; enable the management bring in more aircraft through savings from overheads and pay for C-checks.

“It will also enable Aero have a more manageable and committed workforce in line with international best practices of 50 to 60 personnel to one aircraft unlike what obtains in Aero at the moment.”

According to the statement, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) department and other vital staff in very sensitive departments would not be affected.