NCAA Suspends All United Nigeria Airlines Wet Leasing Aircraft
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended all wet-leased aircraft under United Nigeria Airlines (UNA).
The news comes after one of the United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) aircraft was diverted to Asaba International Airport instead of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) on Sunday, November 26.
The main civil aviation regulatory body made the decision on Monday, November 27, through a letter communicated to the airline’s Chief Operating Officer (COO).
According to the Nigerian Tribune, all wet leased aircraft in the airline’s operations would remain grounded pending the outcome of an investigation into Sunday’s incident involving one of the wet leased aircraft in the airline’s fleet.
It was gathered that immediately after the incident was reported online, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Captain Musa Nuhu called an emergency agency meeting where it was resolved that the excuse given by the airline was not sustainable for the authority.
It was concluded that the report obtained from the Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) contradicted the airline’s claim about the poor weather situation in Abuja at the time of the diversion.
No less than two wet-leased Airbus A320-200 aircraft are in the United Nigeria Airlines fleet.
A wet-lease is a leasing arrangement whereby an airline (the lessor) provides an aircraft, full crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) to another airline or other type of business that acts as an air travel broker (the lessee). ), which pays for hours operated.
Source: www.lindaikejisblog.com