Aviation industry experts and other stakeholders have queried the propriety of appointing Captain Ado Sanusi, immediate past Deputy Managing Director of the distressed Arik Air, as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aero Contractors.
The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), last Monday, announced Captain Sanusi as the CEO of Aero Contractors. He replaced Captain Fola Akinkuotu, who was, in January, appointed Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
A director with one of the major airlines is of the view that having failed at Arik, Captain Sanusi will inevitably fail at Aero Contractors.
“You said Arik Air was not managed well and you had a Deputy Managing Director, who was also the Vice President of the airline and a pilot who grew to become an aircraft captain. Yet, the carrier failed.
“The same man is now handpicked as the CEO in another carrier that is under AMCON. I can assure you that the airline cannot survive. It will fail like Arik,” he told SaharaReporters in confidence.
Captain Dele Ore, a retired pilot and President of Aviation Round Table (ART), is of the same sentiment. He wondered why CaptainSanusi was chosen in a field brimming with people of impressive track records. He described Captain Sanusi’s appointment as a “double jeopardy” for Aero Contractors.
“I am at loss as to what informed the government decision to makeSanusi the ‘Mr. Quick-Fix and Messiah’ of Aero Contractors. What did he achieve in Arik Air as Deputy Managing Director? This is double jeopardy for Aero,” he said.
The former pilot said the challenges currently faced by domestic airlines are self-induced.
“What is playing out in our industry may be worrisome, but definitely not unexpected. What is befalling our domestic carriers was brought upon themselves involuntarily,” he said.
He argued that the recipe for successful operation is a settlement of legitimate bills when due and called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the final payment and rehabilitation staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited. He added that Nigeria Airways set standards that are unmatchable by any flag or national carrier.
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