Air Nigeria showcases turn-around strategy gains

One year after the acquisition of the airline by the NICON Group, the airline has achieved several milestones which have repositioned the airline on the path of profitability. Chiefly amongst the milestones are the successful rebranding of the airline as Air Nigeria, acquisition of 6 additional operating aircraft to service current and new domestic and regional routes, the opening of five additional routes and increase of frequencies along the network, the achievement of a debt free status and the conferment of the Airline of the Year 2010 award.

Building on the successes of the first year since acquisition Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, the management will over the next few months focus on positioning the airline for dominance in Nigeria and West Central Africa. Some of the efforts towards achieving this include farther enhancement of the knowledge and skill of employees, the re-commencement of long haul operations, deeper assessment of the business towards implementing requirements for attaining profitability and establishment of strategic partnerships and the development of five year strategy with the objective of positioning the airline ahead of the competition.

Air Nigeria has further reiterated its commitment to continually meet its obligations to its seasoned workforce across all cadres to keep them well motivated. Air Nigeria is set to embark on a recruitment drive to fill vacancies that currently exists in addition to retaining the present workforce. The airline therefore has no plans of laying-off any member of staff even as there is an ongoing assessment of skills, competencies of the workforce towards ensuring that well trained personnel are in positions of authority.

It is also imperative to note that despite the global challenges affecting the aviation industry Air Nigeria is in a strong financial position. This is evident in the timely payment of salaries and other benefits to members of staff as well as meeting obligations to other suppliers and vendors.

Air Nigeria has also initiated purchase partnership negotiations with fuel marketers to mitigate flight disruptions. The outcome of these discussions will further boost schedule integrity and improve on time performance in the coming weeks.

The airline continues to employ global best practices in its day-to-day flight operations, maintenance and management of its fleet with its pool of well trained and qualified engineers and professional manpower supported by expertise from Lufthansa Technik, who provide the technical support that ensures that safety is not compromised. Air Nigeria takes safety seriously and it operates in line with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations as well as International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

Air Nigeria is one of the fastest growing airlines in West Africa and is at the forefront of offering innovative and customer friendly products in the Nigerian aviation industry such as its recently introduced mobile ticketing service known as MY AIRMOBILE. In recognition of its outstanding contributions towards development of the Nigerian aviation industry, Air Nigeria clinched the “Airline of the Year 2010” at the Nigeria Aviation Awards (NIGAV),
From its operational base at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, Air Nigeria currently operates to Benin City, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Kano, Sokoto and Enugu on the domestic routes while it also operates to Brazzaville, Accra, Douala, Dakar, Monrovia, Cotonou, Banjul, Libreville and Abidjan with further plans to extend services to more African destinations, Europe, Asia and America.

Source: Air Nigeria