Aero Contractors (Nigeria)

Infobox Airline
airline = Aero Contractors (Nigeria)

logo_size = 216
fleet_size = 19
destinations = 15
IATA = AJ
ICAO = NIG
callsign = AEROLINE
parent = Oteri Holdings
company_slogan = The Reliable Way to Fly
founded = 1959
headquarters =
key_people = Koen Neven (CEO), Hans Rikkerink (CFO), Dapo Olumide (Manager, Fixed Wing), Mark Snoxell (Business Development Manager), Charles Onyeukwu (HR Director)
hubs = Murtala Mohammed International Airport
secondary_hubs =
focus_cities =
frequent_flyer =
lounge = Heritage Lounge
alliance =
website = http://www.flyaero.com/

Aero Contractors (Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria Ltd) or simply "Aero" is an airline based in Lagos, Nigeria. It operates domestic and international scheduled services, air taxi, charter and third party aircraft operations, largely in support of Nigeria's extensive oil and gas industry. Its main base is Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

History

AeroContractors was formed in 1959; officially registered in Nigeria in 1960 and, at that time, wholly owned by Schreiner Airways B.V. of the Netherlands. It became a company with initially 40% Nigerian holding in 1973 and subsequently 60% in 1976, anticipating the requirements of the Indigenization Decree. In January 2004, Schreiner Airways was bought by Canadian Helicopter Corporation (C.H.C.) who acquired 40% holding of Aerocontractors while the 60% majority share remained within the Ibru family.

The airline is owned by Mofta West Africa (60%) and Canadian Helicopters (40%) and has 697 employees (at March 2007)cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 47 | date= 2007-03-27] .

The Nigerian government set a deadline of April 30 2007 for all airlines operating in the country to re-capitalise or be grounded, in an effort to ensure better services and safety. The airline satisfied the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)’s criteria in terms of re-capitalization and was re-registered for operation. [ [http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/NR/exeres/B30C7654-36D9-4C57-837C-1EAB4A103091.htm?id=637 Nigeria Direct] 2 May 2007]

Destinations

Africa

*Cote d'Ivoire
**Abidjan (Port Bouet Airport)

*Equatorial Guinea
**Malabo (Malabo International Airport)

*Ghana
**Accra (Kotoka International Airport)

*Gabon
**Libreville (Libreville International Airport)

*Liberia
**Monrovia (Roberts International Airport)

*Nigeria
**Abuja (Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport)
**Benin City (Benin Airport)
**Calabar (Magaret Ekpo International Airport)
**Enugu (Akanu Ibiam International Airport)
**Lagos (Murtala Mohammed International Airport) Hub
**Port Harcourt
*** (Port Harcourt NAF Base)
*** (Port Harcourt International Airport)
**Warri (Osubi Airport)

*São Tomé and Príncipe
**São Tomé (São Tomé International Airport)

Fleet

The Aero Contractors (Nigeria) fleet includes the following aircraft (as of 21 September 2008) [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=AJ&al_op=1] :

*2 Boeing 737-300
*2 Boeing 737-400
*7 Boeing 737-500
*1 Bombardier Dash 8 100
*6 Bombardier Dash 8 Q300
*1 De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300

External links

* [http://www.flyaero.com/ Aero Contractors (Nigeria)]

References