Govt lifts DANA Air’s suspension

The Federal Government yesterday lifted the suspension on Dana Air’s operating licence, freeing the airline to resume commercial operation, 93 days after its aircraft crashed, killing 153 passengers on board and other people on the ground in Iju Ishaga, Lagos State. Minister of Aviation Princess Stella Oduah said the lifting of the ban followed the government’s satisfaction with the air-worthiness of the airline after a rigorous technical, operational and financial audit.

She explained that government would continue to strengthen its oversight and regulatory functions to ensure that all airlines operating in the country, including Dana Air, adhere strictly to safety procedures as required by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act and all other local and international regulations that ensure and promote sustainable air safety.

The operating licence of Dana Airlines was temporarily suspended following the June 3 crash as a safety precaution. Agitation by passengers and the desire not to create a near monopoly in the aviation sector may have accounted for the lifting of the ban on the suspension, investigations have revealed.
The lifting of the ban did not come to many observers in the aviation industry as a surprise, as the dwindling fortunes of other carriers on the domestic scene may have created a wide vacuum in the sector. 

Since the crash, passengers have had to struggle to get seats on the existing carriers following the closure of other carriers including Chanchangi Airlines limited, which is currently reflecting, Air Nigeria which has suspended operations to reorganise and one of the domestic carriers, which took its aircraft overseas for major repairs, leaving passengers with the choice among Aero airlines, Arik air and IRS airlines. 
A cross section of passengers who reacted to the lifting of the ban yesterday described it as a welcome development, as the three existing carriers namely could not provide the needed services for the available capacity on all routes.

The passengers however called on DANA Air to consider changing the aircraft in their fleet to other types other than MD 83, because of the serious safety integrity issues raised about the aircraft type.
Demuren stated yesterday that one major challenge the airline has to grapple with is the homogeneity of its aircraft type, which will subject it to serious scrutiny.

With yesterday,s lifting of it’s suspension, DANA Air has made history as the only airline in Nigeria to have its suspension lifted after it crashed without complete payment of insurance claims to families of victims.

Other carriers that have crashed in the past including Sosoliso Airlines and ADC Airlines are yet to be considered for resumption of operations on reasons bordering on inability to pay insurance claims.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), yesterday gave reasons why only 62 families have been paid the mandatory $30,000 after the crash, insisting that delay in identification of the victims, slow pace of documentation by the relevant bodies and multiple claims by the families, accounts for the inability of the airline to pay the remaining 91 families, including foreigners.

The NCAA Director General, Dr Harold Demuren, explained that the insurers and officials of DANA Air, have to be sure that all legal issues are sorted out before the insurance compensation is paid to the right persons, as the airline and the insurers have faced challenges of multiple claims among the families of victims.

Demuren attributed the delay in the payment of the outstanding $70,000 to issues on getting death certificates, letter of administrator and other legal issues. He spoke after a meeting with insurers of the airline and the national insurance commission of Nigeria , affirming that the full insurance cover of the crashed airline and aircraft is not in doubt, even as he said the right steps have to be taken to ensure that what has to be done is done properly.

Demuren explained that the money is already in place to for the insurers to meet the obligation, but had to ensure that all parties to the compensation are adequately carried along to avoid legal issues that may arise. He said some families have already sued the airline across the globe to claim damages, saying the regulator will ensure that all that has to be dome must be taken care of, before the airline resumes operations.

Source: The Nation