The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday directed the suspended Dana Air to begin an operational audit before it can be allowed to return to flight operations.
The Communication Manager of the airline, Kingsley Ezenwa, who confirmed this in a statement, explained that the audit was also an opportunity for the airline to reassure its guests, clients and partners that the airline remained safe and reliable.
He said the airline has been fully cooperating with officials of the NCAA to ensure quick return to flight operations, saying: “We are pleased to announce that we have commenced the operational audit as advised by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“In this regard, we are fully cooperating with the NCAA to ensure our quick return to flight operations.
“Operational Audits are regulatory and airlines are required to suspend their operations when the regulator calls for it. So we are confident that having been successful in previous audits, we will come back even stronger and better.”
Ezenwa said as an airline, Dana Air was not insulated from the multiple challenges airlines and the aviation industry grapples with daily.
These include the recent skyrocketing cost of aviation fuel at N830/litre, unavailability of foreign exchange, ground handling services, inflation, multiple taxation amongst other operational challenges.
Operational Audits are regulatory and airlines are required to suspend their operations when the regulator calls for it. So we are confident that having been successful in previous audits, we will come back even stronger and better.
He assured that, “While this short stay off the market remains painful and heart-breaking for us, our customers, clients and partners; we remain very hopeful and very confident of our position.
“Our offices will remain open to our travel partners, clients and our customer service will still be operational 24/7 as always to assist customers with necessary information.”
Ezenwa said customers with unused tickets have been advised to apply for refund by sending an email to: contact@flydanaair.com with their details, so it would be resolved in a timely manner.
He expressed the airline’s sincere apologies to all affected customers, clients and travel partners for the inconveniences caused and craved their understanding and patience in the course of the audit.
