Passengers damaged Dana Air Counter due to Cancelled flights owing to the suspension of carrier’s Air Transport Licence (ATL) and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) !

Chaotic situation was seen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) and angry passengers besieged the Dana Air counter , demanding ticket refund , when it was evident that Dana Air has cancelled all of it's flights , without proper communication and proper arrangements for the affected passengers.

Suspension of flights by Dana Air were a result , as effective midnight of July 20, 2022, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had suspended Dana Airlines’  Air Transport Licence (ATL) and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) indefinitely.

The agency’s spokesman said the findings of an investigation conducted on the airline’s flight operations recently revealed that Dana was no longer in a position to meet its financial obligations and conduct safe flight operations.

• After the recent indefinite suspension of the local aviation company’s operations , Dana Airlines has affirmed that its Air Transport Licence (ATL) and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) had been suspended indefinitely.
• Angry Dana Air passengers on Thursday besieged the Airline’s counters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport private terminal two, otherwise known as MM2, to demand refunds of fair following their inability to travel after ticket purchases.

As per the NCAA , the action has been taken pursuant to Section 35(2), 3(b) and (4) of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 and Part 1.3.3.3(a)(1) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs), 2015.

The suspension order , which was handed down by the agency’s Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu, has since been communicated to the management of Dana Airlines.

NCAA spokesman Sam Adurogboye, who announced this yesterday, said the decision was the outcome of a financial and economic health audit carried out on the airline by the NCAA.

He also acknowledged the negative effect this preemptive decision would have on the airline’s passengers and the travelling public and sought their understanding as the safety of flight operations takes priority over all other considerations.

Dana Air Media and communication manager Mr Kingsley Ezenwa said , 

“As an airline, we are not insulated from the multiple challenges airlines and the aviation industry is​ grappling with daily which includes the recent skyrocketing cost of aviation fuel at N830/ltr, unavailability of forex, Ground Handling services, inflation, multiple taxation amongst other operational challenges which airlines have made frantic efforts to communicate to the flying public and the government.

While this short stay off the market remains painful and heartbreaking 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.”​

Earlier on 19th of July , Dana Air had released a press statement regarding the emergency landing of one of it's aircraft , which could have been another trigger for the safety and financial Audits.

Abuja-bound Boeing 737 aircraft with registration mark 5N DNA had made an emergency landing on 19th July , due to an indication on one of its engines. 

Dana Air has blamed the recent skyrocketing cost of Jet A-1 at 830/litre , unavailability of forex , inflation among others as the contributory factors to the current situation.

Also, There was commotion yesterday at the new domestic terminal of the Lagos Airport, called the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2), when passengers destroyed property of the airline.

The passengers were angry over poor communication by Dana Air on indefinite suspension of its operations by the NCAA.

The passengers, numbering over 100, said the airline management failed to brief them on the airline’s next line of action on possible transfer to other partner airlines or refund of their ticket fares.

While security officials of the terminal manager, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, made frantic efforts to calm some of the passengers, others damaged the glass windows of the airline’s counters and disrupted activities at the departure hall of the terminal.

Picture Courtesy : Emeka Dozie .

In a statement by its spokesman, Kingsley Ezenwa, the carrier said in the face of the difficult times, it was collecting information to credit the accounts of the affected passengers for ticket refunds.

In the midst of the confusion, Dana Airlines has said it will come out stronger from the suspension of its operations by the aviation regulator.

In a statement , Dana Air said,

“ it understands the impact this suspension will have on our partners, staff, passengers and the general public, but we are very confident that we would come out stronger as we have done in the past”.

It is being learnt that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed the suspended Dana Air to begin operational audit before it can ensure return to flight operations. 

Earlier in the year , when the domestic carriers were protesting high ATF (Aviation turbine Fuel) prices, on 8th May , bringing a twist to the tale , 'Dana Air' , 'Arik and Aero Contractors' had followed 'Ibom Air' to reject the plan by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) , that aimed to suspend operations over high cost of aviation turbine fuel and other operational expenses.