The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have disproved a report published on the cover page of Business Day on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 which states that 13 Nigeria Airlines are blacklisted by lessors.
AON Spokesperson, Prof. Obiorah Okonkwo who disclosed this in a press statement said the report was titled: ’13 Nigerian Airlines Blacklisted for Contract Breaches’.
He added that a follow up story was also published with the title: “Air Peace, Ibom Air, United Nigeria, Max Air, others say not blacklisted by lessors.”
Obiorah Okonkwo however noted that the second report claimed that airline operators denied owing lessors even when the newspaper did not officially speak with the managements of the airlines it listed in its earlier report.
He declared that legal action will be taken on Businessday if the media organization fails to withdraw the false report and apologize officially.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we categorically state that the first report is entirely false, malicious and defamatory. The second report is even worse as the newspaper, instead of doing the honourable thing required of it for publishing falsehood- that is retraction- it started concocting information to justify a fake news.We want to state that Nigerian airlines have consistently worked very hard to meet their contractual obligations with lessors despite operating within a challenging business environment.”
“It is also a well-known fact that the Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, since assuming office, acknowledged the challenges domestic operators face and has made concerted efforts to create an enabling environment for us to operate.”
“For the public’s information, two of the airlines mentioned – Air Peace and Azmani – have themselves been victims of fraud by lessors, incurring losses exceeding $3 million. Despite these setbacks, demestic airlines have remained committed to serving the Nigerian public and contributing to National Economic development.”
“We find the publication of such inaccuracies very disheartening. We see it as a calculated attempt to erode confidence and to destroy the aviation industry.”
“We demand an immediate retraction of the report and apology by Businessday with the same prominence given to the inaccurate coverstories”
“In the absence of a satisfactory response, we may be forced to file a comp!aint with relevant media oversight bodies, take legal action or both to protect our reputation” he wrote.
