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{{Short description|Nigerian airline}}

factoids

Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria Limited, known as Aero Contractors or simply Aero, is a state-controlled Nigerian airline company based at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria."Offices & Phone Numbers {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126074424weblink |date=November 26, 2011 }}." Aero Contractors. Retrieved on 8 December 2011. "Aero Lagos International Airport Office Room 2058 2nd Floor Murtala Mohammed International Airport" and "AeroContractors Lagos Airport Office Private Terminal Domestic Wing Murtala Mohammed Airport Ikeja, Lagos""Privacy Policy {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911090413weblink |date=2010-09-11 }}." Aero Contractors. Retrieved on 8 December 2011. "Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria Limited, (Private Terminal), Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria." Furthermore, it operates helicopter services and fixed wing domestic and international scheduled passenger services, air charter and third party aircraft operations, largely in support of Nigeria's extensive oil and gas industry.

History

File:Piper PA-27 Aztec 5N-ACU Aero Contr Warri 14.05.70 edited-3.jpg|thumb|right| A Piper PA-23 Aztec six-seat charter aircraft of Aero Contractors in 1970, pictured at Warri Airport after a flight from Lagos Ikeja Airport ]]Aero Contractors was formed in 1959 and officially registered in Nigeria in 1960. At that time, it was a wholly owned by Schreiner Airways B.V. of the Netherlands.It became a company with initially 40% Nigerian holding in 1973 and subsequently 60% in 1976, anticipating the requirements of the Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Decree of 1977, also known as the indigenization decree. In January 2004, Schreiner Airways was bought by CHC Helicopter (CHC), which acquired a 40% holding in Aero, while the 60% majority share remained within the Ibru family.On 1 July 2010, CHC sold its interests in Aero for the consideration of 1 Nigerian naira,WEB,weblink Form 10-K, www.sec.gov, 2017-08-29, when Aero became wholly owned by the Ibru family.WEB,weblink History « Welcome to Aero Airline Nigeria, 2010-10-21, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20101019122654weblink">weblink 2010-10-19, In March 2013, industrial action grounded flights for 18 days, in a dispute over outsourcing and reduction in staff numbers. The strike, from 13–28 March, grounded Aero's active fleet of nine aircraft, and was reported to have cost the airline at least N10bn in ticket sales.WEB,weblink Aero Contractors in N10b loss, 2013-08-26, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130411213532weblink">weblink 2013-04-11, WEB,weblink Africa News, m.news24.com, 2017-08-29, After financial intervention, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), an arm of the Federal Government of Nigeria, held 60% of Aero,WEB,weblink AMCON confirms ownership of 60% stake in Aero — the Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper, 2013-05-18, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130131184051weblink">weblink 2013-01-31, and in August 2013 it was reported that AMCON had taken over the management of the carrier. Hugh Fraser was named as new CEO.WEB,weblink Airfinance Home, www.airfinancejournal.com, en, 2017-08-29, WEB,weblink ■ NIGERIA: AMCON confirms appointment of new CEO, CFO at Aero., www.theafricanaviationtribune.com, 2017-08-29, In August 2013 there was press speculation that the Federal Government will use Aero Contractors as the nucleus of a new national carrier, recapitalizing it through a N200 billion initial public offering (IPO). The new airline was allegedly to be known as 'Nigerian Eagle', several years after the liquidation of the defunct flag carrier Nigeria Airways, and that the airline would commence full operations before the end of the year (2013). The factual basis for this report was the repainting of an Aero plane in the colours of the Nigeria national football team, the Super Eagles. The Ministry of Air Transport, however, clarified the repainting of the aircraft was only publicity related to the qualification of the National team for the 2014 World Cup.WEB,weblink National Carrier: Aero Changes Name to Nigerian Eagle, Articles | THISDAY LIVE, 2014-04-23, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140217214819weblink">weblink 2014-02-17, In 2016, Aero Contractors became the first official airline casualty of Nigeria's worsening economic crisis after it announced it would suspend all scheduled operations with effect from 1 September 2016.WEB,weblink Aero Contractors suspends operations indefinitely, sends staff on leave, August 31, 2016, Vanguard Nigeria, However, since December 2016 the airline has gradually returned to full operations, operating 6,717 flights in 2019.WEB,weblink 80,875 Flights Operated In Nigeria In 2019 –Report, 10 February 2020, Sahara Reporters,

Corporate affairs

Ownership

Aero was wholly owned by the Ibru family. Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) now owns 60% of the shares, with the remaining 40% owned by Ibru family interests.

Structure and partnerships

Aero has two divisions:WEB,weblink Company Profile « Welcome to Aero Airline Nigeria, 2010-10-21, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20101102174014weblink">weblink 2010-11-02,

1. Aero Nigeria – provides scheduled passenger services in Nigeria and western Africa.
2. Rotary Wing – provides helicopter services for the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

Aero still has a technical partnership with CHC regarding its rotary wing division.File:AeroContractors Eurocopter Dauphin Makinde-4.jpg|right|thumb|Aero Contractors Aerospatiale SA-365N Dauphin 2, in 2005]]File:De Havilland Canada DHC-8-311 Dash 8, Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria AN1030982.jpg|thumb|right| A de Havilland Canada Dash 8 of Aero Contractors in 2006, pictured at Faro AirportFaro AirportFile:Aero Contractors Boeing 737-300 Milinkovic.jpg|right|thumb|An Aero Contractors Boeing 737-300 (now retired)]]

Business trends

Aero Contractors was an active airline until 2016, when the recession in Nigeria forced a brief closure of operations. Activity has slowly increased since then, but full formal accounts do not seem to be published; recent available figures, largely from press reports, are shown below (for years ending 31 December):{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"! style="background:#ff6600; color:white;"|! style="background:#ff6600; color:white;"|2015! style="background:#ff6600; color:white;"|2016! style="background:#ff6600; color:white;"|2017! style="background:#ff6600; color:white;"|2018! style="background:#ff6600; color:white;"|2019| Number of aircraft - fixed wing (at year end)1716! align=center|7| Number of aircraft - helicopter (at year end)15! align=center|| Notes/sourcesNIGERIA'S AERO CONTRACTORS EYES 15-STRONG FLEET>PUBLISHER= CH-AVIATIONDATE= 19 MARCH 2019,

Destinations

Aero serves the following destinations:

Nigeria

1. Abuja - Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
2. Asaba - Asaba International Airport
3. Benin City - Benin Airport
4. Calabar - Magaret Ekpo International Airport (as Cally Air)
5. Kano - Aminu Kano Airport
6. Lagos - Murtala Mohammed International Airport Hub
7. Port Harcourt - Port Harcourt International Airport
8. Sokoto - Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport
9. Yola - Yola Airport

Fleet

Current fleet

The Aero Contractors fleet consists of the following aircraft as of August 2019:WEB,weblink Nigeria's Aero Contractors to acquire two Q400s, 17 July 2017, ch-aviation.com, en-GB, 17 July 2017, JOURNAL, Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One), Airliner World, October 2019, 22, {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center"|+ Aero Contractors fleet!Aircraft!In service!Orders!Passengers!Notes|Boeing 737-300|2|—|140|Operated for Cally AirBoeing 737 Classic>Boeing 737-400|1|—|144|Boeing 737 Classic>Boeing 737-500|2|—|8C 96Y|Bombardier Dash 8>De Havilland Dash 8-Q200|1|—|36|Bombardier Dash 8>De Havilland Dash 8-Q300|1|—|50|Bombardier Dash 8>De Havilland Dash 8-Q400|2|2|78|!Total!7!2!colspan="2"|

Historical fleet

The airline fixed wing fleet previously included the following aircraft:WEB,weblink dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20151208061301weblink">weblink 2015-12-08, Aircraft and Fleet Lists - ch-aviation.com,

1. 6 Boeing 737-300 (2003-2009)
2. 6 further Boeing 737-400
3. 4 further Boeing 737-500
4. 1 De Havilland Dash 8-Q100 (1995-2009)
5. 10 further De Havilland Dash 8-Q300 (1997-2012)

Accidents and incidents

1. 29-APR-2014 / DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 / 5N-BPT
2. 05-SEP-1995 / Dassault Falcon 20F / 5N-EPN
3. 13-SEP-1994 / DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 / 5N-ATQ

References

{{Reflist|2}}

External links

• {{commons category-inline|Aero Contractors}}
• Official website {{in lang|en}}

{{Airlines of Nigeria}}{{African Airlines Association}}{{authority control}}