GERMAN carrier Lufthansa Airlines has disassociated itself from the list of companies planning to reduce its flight operations in Nigeria as the ongoing downturn in the aviation sector hits hard.
Over the last year, Nigeria has suffered from a dearth of foreign exchange due to the collapse in global oil prices, hitting airlines hard. Due to a combination of aviation fuel scarcity, limited foreign exchange, a collapse in passenger numbers and high maintenance costs as they bring their facilities up to international standards, most Nigerian airlines have been unable to function as normal.
This has led several of them to ground their fleets, with the likes of Arik Air, Aero Contractors and First Nation all suspending operations at one time or the other over recent months, citing difficulties in procuring foreign exchange. Earlier this week, Emirates Airlines announced that it would stop flights to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja with effect from October 22.
In response to the panic, Lufthansa has come out to say that it has no plans to reduce its flight operations in Nigeria. Its media consultant Hakeem Jimoh, said the airline, which operates flights to Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt International Airports, would not be following a similar path for now.
Mr Jimoh said: “Yes, there has been challenges, particularly with the issue of forex but I can tell you that Lufthansa has no plan for now to reduce flight operations in Nigeria. Lufthansa has been operating in Nigeria for over 50 years and the country is important to the airline’s operation, especially in West Africa."
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