Forex forced Dana, Aero out of Lagos-Accra route

Nigeria’s oldest domestic airline operator, Aerocontractors and Dana Air has suspended their Lagos-Accra operation due to inadequate aircraft and inaccessibility to foreign exchange.

Aero is the oldest Nigerian airline operating the route from Lagos.

Although, the airline have been engulfed in managerial crisis before now and this led to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria taken over the airline for repositioning.

Captain Fola Akinkoutu, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, recently told our reporter in an exclusive interview that his mission was to reposition the airline for better performance.

Akinkoutu, though believed with his appointment, the airline will bounce back with time.

Also, a new entrant on the route, Dana Air has suspended operations to Accra as a result of harsh forex.

Confirming the situation, the Managing Director and the Chief Executive of the airline, Jacky Hathiramani said it was due to high cost of foreign exchange and some other factors.

Dana started the Accra route late last year and only recently introduced promotional airfares to Accra in order to encourage passengers.

Meanwhile, the Airline Operators of Nigeria has kicked against the high Forex rate and urged government to remedy the situation.