By Ibe Uwaleke
THE management of ASKY Airlines said it received with great surprise the decision of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) which stopped the airlines operations to Lagos and Abuja, when the carrier had already suspended all its flights to and from Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monrovia and some other routes in West Africa.
This is coming as the director general of ASKY Airlines, Yissehak Zewoldi yesterday said the travelling restriction is currently seriously affecting passengers within the region. He urged the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to reconsider its position on suspending ASKY airline's operations into Nigeria.
Zewoldi said since the initial outbreak of the Ebola virus in Conakry, Guinea in February 2014 and the recent spread in Liberia and Sierra Leone, the airline had been highly concerned and taking measures to avoid further spread.
He disclosed that he had written to the director general of NCAA twice on the measures taken so far and his full commitment to closely work with all authorities, governments and organizations in the fight against the spread of this disease.
According to him ASKY is determined to keep its passengers and staff safe during this unsettling time, adding that the carrier is following the situation closely and will issue updates as the situation changes.
Meanwhile, ASKY's Country Commercial Manager (Nigeria), Bolaji Ogunwunmi said that in a bid to ameliorate the sufferings of the airline's passengers who had pre-booked their flights to Nigeria and other places where it has stopped operations, the Ethiopian Airlines had undertaken to airlift the passengers.
He reiterated that virtually all its passengers which trip had been disrupted as a result of the deadly virus had been communicated to while some other carriers which it has interline who declined to travel had been refunded.
ASKY Airlines is Ethiopian Airlines feeder airline with its hub in Lome, Togo. Since its operations about four years ago, the airline has been a dominant carrier in West and Central Africa region.
Zewoldi in a letter sent to the director-general of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Benedict Adeliyeka, dated July 28, 2014, said the airline has already started working closely with all authorities, institutions, health organizations and governments who are directly concerned.
He noted that through its local civil aviation, they are having series of meetings daily and following up with the instructions of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Ministry of Health to implement a number of measures both on ground and in all ASKY flights in order to prevent contamination.
He stated that the action of the Nigerian aviation regulatory body "is giving us great concern as we haven't received any notification or grace period to take operational measures".
"However, we do understand the great concern and exposure the Ebola virus is causing within the region. Permit me to seize this opportunity to let you know that we are highly concerned as about the security and wellbeing of everyone and are fully willing to cooperate with all authorities, governments, medical institutions and international organizations to prevent the wide spread".
Zewoldi listed some measures the carrier had taken as the stoppage of uplifting food and overnight in the affected destinations such as Sierra Leone, Liberia and Conakry; protection of ASKY Airlines staff to avoid direct contacts and eliminate the spread of the virus; deployment of medical teams to the airport to screen all transiting passengers; and the agreement of the local civil aviation in Lome, Togo to put in place a scanning machine at the airport just like in Conakry, Guinea.
He further disclosed that He however requested that Adeliyeka reconsiders his decision, adding that the carrier had since suspended its operations to Freetown and Monrovia until situations come under control.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian department of Food, Medicine and Health Care Administration and Control Authority in a certificate dated July 27, 2014, presented to the carrier stated that the aircraft ET ALN schedule operate Flight number 452 has been disinfected with Aerosol No. 333370 3333356 333363.
THE management of ASKY Airlines said it received with great surprise the decision of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) which stopped the airlines operations to Lagos and Abuja, when the carrier had already suspended all its flights to and from Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monrovia and some other routes in West Africa.
This is coming as the director general of ASKY Airlines, Yissehak Zewoldi yesterday said the travelling restriction is currently seriously affecting passengers within the region. He urged the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to reconsider its position on suspending ASKY airline's operations into Nigeria.
Zewoldi said since the initial outbreak of the Ebola virus in Conakry, Guinea in February 2014 and the recent spread in Liberia and Sierra Leone, the airline had been highly concerned and taking measures to avoid further spread.
He disclosed that he had written to the director general of NCAA twice on the measures taken so far and his full commitment to closely work with all authorities, governments and organizations in the fight against the spread of this disease.
According to him ASKY is determined to keep its passengers and staff safe during this unsettling time, adding that the carrier is following the situation closely and will issue updates as the situation changes.
Meanwhile, ASKY's Country Commercial Manager (Nigeria), Bolaji Ogunwunmi said that in a bid to ameliorate the sufferings of the airline's passengers who had pre-booked their flights to Nigeria and other places where it has stopped operations, the Ethiopian Airlines had undertaken to airlift the passengers.
He reiterated that virtually all its passengers which trip had been disrupted as a result of the deadly virus had been communicated to while some other carriers which it has interline who declined to travel had been refunded.
ASKY Airlines is Ethiopian Airlines feeder airline with its hub in Lome, Togo. Since its operations about four years ago, the airline has been a dominant carrier in West and Central Africa region.
Zewoldi in a letter sent to the director-general of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Benedict Adeliyeka, dated July 28, 2014, said the airline has already started working closely with all authorities, institutions, health organizations and governments who are directly concerned.
He noted that through its local civil aviation, they are having series of meetings daily and following up with the instructions of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Ministry of Health to implement a number of measures both on ground and in all ASKY flights in order to prevent contamination.
He stated that the action of the Nigerian aviation regulatory body "is giving us great concern as we haven't received any notification or grace period to take operational measures".
"However, we do understand the great concern and exposure the Ebola virus is causing within the region. Permit me to seize this opportunity to let you know that we are highly concerned as about the security and wellbeing of everyone and are fully willing to cooperate with all authorities, governments, medical institutions and international organizations to prevent the wide spread".
Zewoldi listed some measures the carrier had taken as the stoppage of uplifting food and overnight in the affected destinations such as Sierra Leone, Liberia and Conakry; protection of ASKY Airlines staff to avoid direct contacts and eliminate the spread of the virus; deployment of medical teams to the airport to screen all transiting passengers; and the agreement of the local civil aviation in Lome, Togo to put in place a scanning machine at the airport just like in Conakry, Guinea.
He further disclosed that He however requested that Adeliyeka reconsiders his decision, adding that the carrier had since suspended its operations to Freetown and Monrovia until situations come under control.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian department of Food, Medicine and Health Care Administration and Control Authority in a certificate dated July 27, 2014, presented to the carrier stated that the aircraft ET ALN schedule operate Flight number 452 has been disinfected with Aerosol No. 333370 3333356 333363.
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