Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), the umbrella body of all indigenous airlines in Nigeria, has clarified certain issues relating to the nitty-gritty of airline operations, noting that the business of running an airline does not amount to a “cash-and-carry” affair.
The Operators elucidated this in a press statement today Wednesday, August 31, 2022 in response to certain media reports which accuse AON of “defrauding government aviation agencies” to the tune of over N19 billion naira, while “converting same to personal use.”
According to the press release which was signed by the Vice President, AON, Barr. Allen Onyema, “Airline Operations worldwide is not a cash-and-carry business. Every airline in the world owes debts which are settled as their operations go on. Nigeria is not an exception. The owing of debts in itself does not amount to fraud. We frown very strongly at the criminalization of all Nigerian airlines”, it reads.
AON goes on to concede that some of its members may be hugely indebted to certain government agencies, but definitely not all its members are. The statement further reads: “It is pertinent to point out that some of these debts are owed by some airlines that are no longer in existence.”
The Operators enjoined the airlines concerned to work with the government agencies in question so as to devise a payment plan, noting that since the debt situation does not apply to all its members, it is unfair to imply otherwise.
According to Onyema, airlines in Nigeria are operating in very grim and unfavourable conditions and therefore need the support of everyone, for the benefit and ultimate prosperity of the sector.
