Domestic carrier, Aero Contractors has returned to profitability following the takeover of management by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in 2016, which culminated in the dissolution of its board and subsequent appointment of a manager to run it in an interim capacity.
Against this backdrop, the incumbent Managing Director of Aero Contractors said recently that the airline has achieved a significant financial turnaround, reducing its liabilities by 33 per cent and recording an 18 per cent profit margin in 2024, a sharp contrast to the -69 per cent loss recorded in 2022.
Reacting to the development, Managing Director of AMCON, Mr. Gbenga Alade told senior media executives on Thursday in Lagos that the new management of the airline had been able to turn around its fortune with two aircraft they got from the Cross River State government.
According to him, “Right now, they have only two aircraft flying and yet they were able to make money from them and the two aircraft did not even belong to them. They were given to them to manage by the Cross River State Government. They don’t even have the aircraft of their own. The ones they have had problems, and they are trying to fix them.
“Now that they have started to make a profit, they are creating a pool of funds to refurbish their own aircraft. They also have plans to bring five more Boeing 737-500 series aircraft very soon on dry lease arrangement,” adding that the same Cross River State Government has given them an additional two aircraft.
Alade told the editors to think about how the airline will transform the airline market with almost 10 aircraft, remarking that it is an airline to watch out for and because they have a history of safety among the airlines, they will take the market by storm very soon.
“If they don’t have their own aircraft but leasing and hiring engines to fly and are able to make a profit, imagine what will happen if they have their own,” Alade said. He said that is a good example of an airline that is easy to transform and that is one of the success stories of AMCON.
He described the Managing Director of Aero Contractors Capt. Ado Sanusi as a pragmatic leader with deep knowledge of the market, the business as well as a man who has integrity and is transparent. This development, the AMCON boss said makes a whole lot of difference, which is why the rebound of Aero, one of the airlines under the AMCON aviation portfolio should be celebrated as one of the many AMCON success stories.
Alade added that AMCON will not be deterred from recovering the huge outstanding loans of N4trillion in its books no matter the gang up by obligors who have done serious damage to the economy of Nigeria with no intention whatsoever to repay their debt. He said this class of obligors are unfortunately the high and mighty who have chosen to hide under the technicalities of the law to avoid repayment of their debt.
He however commended the Judiciary for the support in AMCON’s recovery mandate because most of the outstanding hardcore recoveries are pending in different courts across the country from the Federal High Court to the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court. He also commended the collaboration and support of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Assembly the police, and the media in helping the AMCON recovery mandate, which he described as a national assignment.
