Aero Commences Service to Libreville, Suspends Flights to Kaduna, Jos

AERO Contractor Airline has launched its new route to Gabon, with the first direct flight to Libreville scheduled to depart Nigeria this month, it said recently in Lagos.

The launch of the route, according to Aero was part of its strategy of focusing its operations in Africa, which is a key growth area for the airline and as part of the airline’s regional expansion programme.

It said that the route would be serviced using Boeing 737 aircraft, with a maximum of 144 passengers per flight. The exact launch of the flight is set for Monday, September 20, 2010.

The flights would operate three times weekly: Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The flight will depart at 23H: 30 and arrive Libreville at 01H: 20, while the return flight will depart Libreville at 02H: 20and arrive in Nigeria at 04H: 10.

The Commercial Manager, Robert Prophet, said: “We are making travel more convenient and reliable for our customers. It is a proud moment to welcome Libreville into the family, a destination, which we are confident will serve our customers well. The need to fill a yawning gap in the transportation requirement in the Central African zone prompted the operation of flights to Libreville, Gabon.”

According to him: “The country has attracted significant foreign interests as a result of its oil reserves, which boomed from 1970. Oil is Gabon’s most important natural resource, and a key driver of economic growth. The oil industry is a major source of foreign exchange, accounting for the majority of exports. Gabon’s other natural resources include timber, manganese and uranium.”

Meanwhile, the carrier has announced that effective from October 1, 2010, it would discontinue its flight operation into Kaduna and Jos.

The service into these two cities was launched in November 2009, but the airline said its services into the cities would be suspended due to the present revenue performance on the routes. Aero affirms it does not receive incentives from locals nor reduction in fees; therefore, flying these routes has not been profitable.

Prophet said: “We deeply regret any inconvenience caused to our customers, but we must do what is necessary to preserve the integrity of our operations. Since Aero commenced flight operations into these two states, it has run a safe, reliable service that flies on time and has received broad-based support for our plan of measured growth.

“Aero will make arrangements to send notifications to all passengers who have booked for flights to these routes from October 1, 2010 to reroute to any other domestic destination or apply for our refund policies,’’ he added.

Also, it has offered an Id-el-Fitri promotional fare of 0.00 Naira for flights to all domestic routes if bookings are made online between September 9, 2010 to September 16, 2010.

It stated that thousands of seats are available for sale at zero naira from September 9th till 16th for travels from October 4 to November 30, 2010. This offer is available only when you book ahead and pay online at www.flyaero.com

According to the airline, this special offer is to satisfy, encourage and reward its teeming regular and prospective customers to mark the Eid-el Fitri celebrations.
Prophet said: “We want our customers to take advantage of these offers and fly to any domestic destination of their choice for free.”

BY CHIKA GOODLUCK-OGAZI