The Managing Director of the airline, Capt. Abdullahi
Mahmood, made this known in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday.
Mahmood explained that the two aircraft arrived Abuja on
Thursday afternoon and were immediately received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport (NAIA), Abuja, along with other senior executives of the airline.
The managing director said the two aircraft leased by House
of Five A’s would boost the fleet of the airline and provide the much needed
capacity to serve the Nigerian market.
Mahmood added that the aircraft was the first of its kind in
the Nigerian market.
He said: “We are pleased to secure these two aircraft
through House of Five A’s which will boost our fleet and give us the needed
capacity in the Nigerian market.
“The new aircraft will also make us more efficient and offer
more comfort to our customers.
“These new generation aircraft are suitable to our
operations in this market. We have established an excellent relationship with
the lessors and the financier and we are looking forward to a stronger
relationship between both parties.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aero
Contractors is currently in Receivership by the Asset Management Corporation of
Nigeria (AMCON).
Mahmood was appointed Managing Director of Aero Contractors
in January to build on the success of his predecessor Captain Ado Sanusi.
Under nine months, he has strengthened the airline,
expanding the frontiers of the Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) arm of the
company and increasing its capacity to maintain more aircraft.
Aero Contractors fleet before today as listed on its
website:
Boeing 737-400
- No. Of Engines: 2
- Aircraft Type: Jet
- Passenger Capacity (Max): 144
- Range (in Miles): 2500
Boeing 737-500
- No. Of Engines: 2
- Aircraft Type: Jet
- Passenger Capacity (Max): 116
- Range (in Miles): 2500
Dash 8-300
- No. Of Engines: 2
- Aircraft Type: Civil Turbo Prop
- Passenger Capacity (Max): 50
- Range (in Miles):1200nm
Only four of the Boeing 737 are in operation, two are
parked. None of the four Dash 8-300 is also functional, according to
planespotters.net.