Again, Azman Air Suspends Operations, Sends All Staff On Leave

Barely one month after resuming scheduled flight operations following a shortage of aircraft, Azman Air has once again suspended its operations indefinitely.

The current suspension is attributed to ongoing C-checks being conducted on its aircraft, which require thorough inspections of a majority of the aircraft’s parts by aviation maintenance technicians.

In June, the airline had previously suspended operations due to a shortage of aircraft, but it resumed flights later. However, despite having a fleet of seven aircraft, currently, there are no scheduled flights available on Azman Air’s website.

Before the recent suspension, the airline operated two aircraft, B737-500 5N-AIS and A340-600 5N-AAM, providing Hajj charters to Madinah in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj 2023 season since June 1, 2023. These aircraft were also used on domestic routes like Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Kaduna.

Despite these efforts, Azman Air has been facing challenges in managing its daily scheduled operations due to capacity issues and ongoing maintenance requirements.

Furthermore, in a memo sighted by Vanguard, the airline’s management, through its Human Resource Manager, Magaji Misau, communicated its decision to place all staff on leave without pay, with effect from August 1, 2023. This decision was taken due to the suspension of domestic operations, as aircraft are undergoing C-checks, with completion time expected to take longer.

The staff of the company has expressed concerns over unpaid salaries, which have caused them significant setbacks. An anonymous staff member shared their frustrations about the issue.

Despite attempts to reach out to the company’s management for clarification, there has been no response to text messages and calls at the time of filing this report.

As Azman Air grapples with these operational challenges, passengers and employees await further updates on the airline’s future plans for resuming operations and addressing the financial concerns.