NCAA downgrades Med-View’s operation, to withdraw licence

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has disclosed plans to
withdraw the operating certificate of Med-View Airline Plc by
November, over prolonged shutdown of commercial operations.
The withdrawal notice was in line with the Nigerian Civil Aviation’s
Regulations (Nig. CARs) that prohibit non-usage of operating licence
for between three to nine months or violation of its provisions.
The NCAA had since downgraded the airlines’ scheduled operation to the
status of chartered operator. The apex regulator, however, still
awaits the revival of its operations accordingly, without which the
licence withdrawal will take effect.
The new twist to a festering distress at Med-View has also thrown the
management and workers into panic mode. It was learnt that while the
management were jostling to return at least an aircraft into
operation, its workers had begun to seek new vacancies elsewhere amid
uncertainties at Med-View.
Recall that the airline shut down operations early August over
protracted financial and operational difficulties.
Following a report, the management had denied a shut down, but
admitted to a temporary blackout to attend to maintenance of its
operating aircraft, and set to resume operations in a matter of days.
Instead of returning to operations, the airline’s last set of workers
at the Murtala Muhammed Airport terminal II (MMA2) booking counter had
lately left and shut the office.
The NCAA yesterday confirmed the licence withdrawal threat.
Spokesperson of the NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, said in line with the
provisions of the civil aviation regulation, the airline’s operation
had been downgraded to non-scheduled operations as a stop-gap measure
to keep the airline running till its gets out of the woods.
Unlike scheduled operation that requires a minimum of two aircraft
according to Nig. CARs, non-scheduled or chartered allows for an
aircraft.
Adurogboye added that the airline has till November end to begin
chartered operations; otherwise, its operating licence would be
withdrawn in accordance to the rules.
The Chief Operating Officer of Med-View was reached on the
development. He, however, declined reaction, saying the management had
been in a long discussion. Subsequent enquiries via text message were
not replied.
Med-View is the only local commercial operator quoted on the Nigerian
Stock Exchange (NSE). But the airline has lately been in dire straits,
posting at its last July annual general meeting a record after-tax
loss of N10.33 billion – a 293 per cent drop from 2017 profit.
The management, at the stormy Y2018 general meeting in Lagos, pleaded
with stakeholders to bear with the zero dividend declared, as it
assured that fortunes would soon improve when three aircraft on
routine C-checks return to operations.
Recall that the airline pulled out of the London Gatwick and Dubai
routes last year after a brief stint in the international market,
citing harsh local operating environment, and aircraft leasing
programme that went awry amid aggressive aeropolitics.
The workers also felt the pinch. Between November 2017 and June 2018,
the airline laid off a huge chunk of its workforce especially the
outstation offices.