Medview Airlines has put in place a new operational model that will ensure the effective utilisation of the aircraft in its fleet, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Muneer Bankole, has said.
He made this known in an interview in Lagos.
He said the model had become imperative because of the aircraft in its fleet, which will see the carrier consolidate on its domestic and regional operations.
Bankole said four of its six aircraft were being serviced, while the others were undergoing seat configuration and major maintenance checks at Maintenance Repair Organisation ( MRO) overseas.
He said the sector was experiencing challenges, which have put operators under pressure to consider how to achieve a lot with adequate cost, equipment and route planning.
Bankole said the prevailing economic situation, which has increased operating costs, with aviation fuel selling for over N220 per litre in Lagos and over N260 per litre in other locations, calls for full aircraft utilisation.
He disclosed that in the last five years, Medview Airlines had spent over N22 billion on aviation fuel. He, however, denied allegations that the airline was indebted to fuel suppliers and other companies that provide services to it.
To reduce operating costs, Bankole said Medview was discussing with aircraft manufacturer – Boeing, and a leasing company to procure fuel efficient new airplanes.
He said the carrier will continue to operate a restrictive flight schedule until the two aircraft undergoing maintenance and seat reconfiguration arrive.
He spoke of plans by Medview to resume flights into London and Dubai routes, which it suspended some weeks ago, when the two aircraft arrive.
He said before the end of end of the year, Medview would fly into South Africa and the United States.
Bankole said the relevant documentation and regulatory approvals were being pursued.
Meanwhile, Bankole revealed that the airline has rationalised as 52 workers in the professional and administrative units were laid off as part of efforts to realign its operations.
He debunked claims that Medview was indebted to any of its international service providers, affirming that the carrier has paid over $90,000 to Gatwick Airport Authority, Menzies Aviation and World Fuel in the United Kingdom.
Bankole said: “I will tell you Medview is carrying out staff rationalisation and that is normal in any business. We came back in January and we announced to staff that we had to carry out this exercise (rationalisation).
“In January, we were not owing anyone and in February, we had paid 60 per cent of our colleagues, including our pilots, but those that were laid off were 52 and we are still doing it.”
On alleged debts to service providers, the Medview chief executive said if the carrier was owing any of its foreign service providers, it would not last six months on any route.
He said :” if you owe a foreign service provider you will not last six months. Reason is that the antecedents of the past and many airlines have come and did not last six months.
“ I can give you specifics, Gatwick in the UK, Menzies and World fuel, between them we have paid $9million.
“Our Boeing 777 is undergoing C-Check and will be back by May but this affected our scheduled operations. When you have two aircraft outside, you restructure your operations and plan your schedule.”
“ What We have achieved now, they say charity begins at home, is that instead of flying everywhere and making nonsense of the whole operations, we consolidated our domestic operations and you can see with no challenge we are flying 99.9 per cent capacity.”
