NCAA Suspends All United Nigeria Airlines Wet Lease Aircraft

NCAA has suspended all the wet lease aircraft in the operations of United Nigeria Airline

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has halted all wet-leased aircraft operated by United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) shortly after one of the airline's planes on Sunday was diverted to Asaba International Airport instead of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

The top civil aviation regulatory body made the judgment on Monday and sent a letter to the airline's chief operating officer (COO), according to a source close to NCAA.

The source claimed that until the investigation into the Sunday incident, which involved one of the airline's wet-leased aircraft in the fleet, was completed, all wet-leased aircraft used in airline operations would be suspended.

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Following the incident on Sunday, reports surfaced that Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), summoned an emergency meeting of the agency. At that meeting, it was decided that the airline's explanation was not acceptable to the authorities.

Immediate suspension

Also, the data our correspondent received from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA)'s Air Traffic Controllers (ATCS) refuted the airline's assertion that the weather in Abuja was unfavorable at the time of the diversion.

United Nigeria Airlines operates a fleet that includes no fewer than two wet-leased Airbus A320-200 aircraft.

Wet-leased arrangement

A wet-lease is a type of leasing agreement wherein an airline (the lessor) leases an aircraft, full crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) to another airline or other business operating as a travel agent (the lessee), with payment made based on the number of hours the aircraft is used.

Sometimes, indigenous people may also work as cabin staff.

The source stated: “NCAA has suspended all the wet lease aircraft in the operations of United Nigeria Airlines. The excuse they provided to us that the diversion to Asaba was due to poor weather in Abuja was not acceptable to us. So, we have to take the big step by suspending all the aircraft that are wet leased in their fleet.”