ASRTI condemns Dana Airline’s suspension

By Innocent Raphael

The Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), also known as the Aviation Round Table (ART), has expressed disappointment over suspension of Dana Airline by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

ASRTI made the disclosure in a recent statement signed by the general secretary of the organization, Olumide Ohunayo.

According to ASRTI, the move was contrary to law and process, flies in the face of promises to uphold autonomy within the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The organisation also slammed what it perceived as “external interference” by the Ministry, warning that such actions erode institutional autonomy and pose a grave threat to safety and security within the aviation sector.

Emphasizing the non-negotiable autonomy of the NCAA as enshrined in Nigerian Civil Aviation Act Section 4(3), the group demanded an immediate lifting of the suspension and an apology to the aviation community.

It further urged Minister Festus Keyamo to focus on policy matters beneficial to the airline industry and called for non-interference in the duties of other agencies, notably highlighting concerns at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

While stressing the importance of swiftly appointing necessary Boards to ensure smooth agency operations, the group commended the NCAA for recent disciplinary actions against non-scheduled operators, as it advocated for transparency in disclosing the airlines involved to prevent future infractions.