Air Peace has announced that it will temporarily suspend all scheduled commercial flight operations effective 11:00 pm on Friday, March 27, 2020.
Other airlines closing the same day and time are, Arik Air and Azman. Dana said its service would be suspended from midnight of Wednesday March 25.
The Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Mrs Toyin Olajide, said the airline’s flight operations would be suspended for 23 days.
She said, “This difficult decision was reached in order to, not only, support the efforts of the Federal Government and other stakeholders in curbing the spread of this virus in our nation but also to protect our teeming passengers and our staff from becoming victims of the pandemic.”
“Continuation of flight operations in the present circumstances we find ourselves as airlines could lead to the total collapse of any airline hence the need to quickly stem the rising financial burden and cost of operations.”
Olajide said normal scheduled flight operations would resume on April 20, adding that the airline would be willing to operate special flights both for the government and the people.
The Media and Communications Manager of Dana Air, Kingsley Ezenwa, said the airline’s suspension would be for two weeks.
The Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, said the decision is being taken to mitigate the risk of the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) amongst its customers and staff.
It also noted that customers who have confirmed tickets can still use their tickets when operations resume.
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“Such tickets can be modified at no extra charge,” the statement read as the CEO stated that they hope to resume services as soon as feasible.
“We regret any inconveniences this may have caused you.
“Your safety and well-being is paramount at this period of health emergency. We implore everyone to keep safe and abide by all directives issued by governmental authorities”.
Ilegbodu however said, the airline would also be available to support government emergency, humanitarian and charter flight requests during the period of suspension of air transport operation.
In the same vein, Aero Contractors has announced that effective March 26, 2020, it will suspend flight operations for 14 days in line with the exigencies of COVID-19.
The airline said it regrets any inconveniences caused to its customers as the safety of passengers and staff remain their focus.
Yetunde Adegoke
