NCAA directs suspended Dana Air to begin operational audit

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed the suspended Dana Air to begin operational audit before it can ensure return to flight operations. The Communication Manager of the airline, Mr Kingsley Ezenwa, confirmed this in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday. Ezenwa explained that the audit was also an opportunity for the airline to reassure its guests, clients and partners that the airline remained safe and reliable. The official said the airline had been fully cooperating with officials of the NCAA to ensure quick return to flight operations.

Meanwhile scores of Dana Air passengers on Thursday besieged the Airline’s counters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport private terminal two, otherwise known as MM2, to demand refunds of fair following their inability to travel after ticket purchases. The confusion was caused by the indefinite suspension slammed on the airline by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for alleged financial incapacity and other issues. NCAA had in a statement announced that the suspension of the airline would become effective from Wednesday midnight. Many of the passengers who were billed to travel on the airline tickets were caught up in the action leaving them with the option of buying fresh tickets from other available airlines in operation. The passengers, numbering over 70, expressed reservations on the absence of personnel of the suspended carrier at the departure hall. The passengers had expected the Airline to brief them on the next line of action over possible transfer to other partner airlines or refund of their ticket fares.

The Communication Manager of the airline, Mr Kingsley Ezenwa said , “We are pleased to announce that we have commenced the operational audit as advised by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). In this regard, we are fully cooperating with the NCAA to ensure our quick return to flight operations. Operational Audits are regulatory and airlines are required to suspend their operations when the regulator calls for it. So we are confident that having been successful in previous audits, we will come back even stronger and better.” Ezenwa said that as an airline, Dana Air was not insulated from the multiple challenges airlines and the aviation industry grapples with daily.

According to him, these include the recent skyrocketing cost of aviation fuel at N830/ltr, unavailability of forex, ground handling services, inflation, multiple taxation amongst other operational challenges. He noted that, “While this short stay off the market remains painful and heartbreaking for us. Our customers, clients and partners, we remain very hopeful and very confident of our position. Our offices will remain open to our travel partners, clients and our customer service will still be operational 24/7 as always to assist customers with necessary information.” Ezenwa said customers with unused tickets had also been advised to apply for refund