Airline unions threaten to disrupt the activities of Aero Contractors amid fears it plans to sack 40% of its staff

NIGERIA's aviation unions have threatened to disrupt  the operation of domestic airline Aero Contractors’ amid rumours that the company's management is planning to sack 40% of its workforce as part of a cost-cutting measure.

Of late, Nigerian airlines have been hit hard by the rising cost of aviation fuel due to domestic scarcity brought about by limited refining capacity. Faced with soaring operating costs, the airlines have been in dire straits and it is feared that Aero Contractors is now planning drastic action to resolve its problems.

This week, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) accused Aero's management of concluding plans to reduce the staff strength of the company without considering redundancy or any other alternative to outright sacking. Also, the unions chided the management of the airline for admitting that it had old aircraft.

Both unions appealed to the National Assembly and the ministers of aviation and labour & employment to initiate an intervention that could save both Aero Contractors and Arik Air. Both airlines are currently under the receivership of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (Amcon) having chalked up serious losses.

They said the challenge of Aero Contractors started with a phony aircraft lease, where it acquired two aircraft, which it operated at a loss. Both unions said they were exposing the ills in the airline for concerned authorities to know, so that when they take action they would not be told that it was unexpected and without consultation.