Firstnation Airways Not Folding Up, To Resume Flight Operations September 15

BEVERLY HILLS, September 05, (THEWILL) – FirstNation Airways has revealed that it is not on the verge of folding up, and it has promised that it will return to normal scheduled flight operations by September 15 .

This was contained in a statement by the Head, Corporate Affairs of the airline, Mr Rasheed Yusuff, who disclosed that the carrier's current fleet was undergoing engine maintenance for safety operations, in line with global practice in the industry.

He denied reports that the company was on the verge of folding up, stressing that taking aircraft out for maintenance was not the same as winding up operations adding that the award of IOSA certification to the airline within 12 months of application by remains unrivalled in West and Central Africa.

The airline emphasised that the planned maintenance was orderly and arranged with advance notification to passengers.

“FirstNation is not on the verge of folding up. In reality, since the airline launched services in 2011, the airline has built a strong followership and has been rated consistently as market leader on safety and schedule integrity,” the statement read.

“This reputation was reinforced by FirstNation's achievement of International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification, which is the airline industry global benchmark for world class safety standard in record time of 12 months.

“This international attestation of FirstNation's safety and operational standard, was contrary to the false and damaging impression that the media attempted to paint in the publications of September 1.

“We are working to grow the fleet as well. All our aircraft have recently undergone C-Check and returned.

“We currently have no aircraft undergoing C-Check anywhere in the world. Our first fleet of A320 were orderly returned to the Lessor and we maintained good relationship with the Lessor.”

The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) programme is an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline.

Story by David Oputah.