Airlines Cancel Flights as Traffic Controllers Disrupt Operations

Airlines Cancel Flights as Traffic Controllers  Disrupt Operations
  •  Normal flight have resumed at all airports, says NAMA

Chinedu Eze

Early flights from Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano were yesterday delayed following the introduction of “Flow Control” by Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs).

Flow control is a strategy that ATCOs uses to delay flight take-off and it is aimed at slowing down traffic. The ATCOs introduced the measure following the death of one of their colleagues while on duty, to protest against alleged poor welfare by the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

The development forced airlines to cancel some of their flights, as they could not operate at scheduled time due to disruptions by the controllers.

The Air Traffic Controller, Anniekan Effiong, had slumped and died in the early hours of Monday, while on duty at Abuja Approach Radar Control (TRACON).

The Chief Operating Officer, Dana Air, Obi Mbanozua who confirmed the action of the controllers, said the airline’s 06:45am to Abuja got airborne at 8:15am as the situation looked “as if it’s going to be a long day.”

Mbanozua also disclosed that the airline’s 7:00am PHC was number 20 in the sequence and its Owerri flight of 7:30am was number 12 in the sequence.

“An Arik flight which is number three has just been told not to expect start-up clearance before 9:40am. We’re calling all our passengers right now,” he told THISDAY.

Also Green Africa cancelled its inaugural flight from Lagos to Owerri slated for 1:45 pm, but later rescheduled the flight to 4:45 pm and later announced further delay.

THISDAY also learnt that other airlines faced the same hiccups due to the disruption by the traffic controllers.

The executive council of National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) had held an emergency meeting on Monday, and had issued a statement thereafter.

NATCA said after deliberations, the council resolved that the ATC system and operations in Nigeria have been skewed and operated with complete disregard to the well-being of ATCOs.

“The managers of the system (the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency) have consistently refused to act in good faith in order to reverse the ugly situation, resulting in one-death too many.

“Despite all entreaties from the EXCO, no action seems to be initiated to resolve any of the issues, hence we are constrained to use any other means at our disposal to register and send out our frustration with the system.

“From 0600 UTC on Tuesday, 23rd November 2021 all ATC units nationwide should operate flow control and all departures should be spaced at 20 minutes interval. All international flights will be exempted,” NATCA explained in the statement.

The association also resolved that all ATCOs would be on high alert should there be a need to escalate this exercise beyond flow control, they are ready to further such actions.

“This exercise will be for two days and will be strictly executed at the four major airports with strict coordination from adjacent aerodromes before any start up is issued,” the statement signed by NATCA President, Abayomi Agoro and Secretary, Agbonlahor Felix, added.

An Aeronautical engineer, who pleaded to remain anonymous, in explaining the implication of the flow control said: “Usually aircraft takes off within 3-5 of each other but due to lack of manpower or industrial action, controllers do flow control and delay the take-off. The implication is that there will be flight delays and slow operation. This seriously caused delays.”

Meanwhile, NAMA in a statement by its Managing Director, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, informed members of the public, especially air passengers that following the intervention of its management, normalcy has been restored, “as the flow control, earlier embarked upon by members of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association today, the 23rd of November, 2021 has been suspended.”

“The above suspension is to pave way for a follow-up meeting between NAMA management, Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the association, scheduled to hold later today. NAMA hereby wishes to reassure airspace users and the general public that the Nigerian airspace remains safe for seamless and economic air travel. We also regret any inconveniences caused earlier today,” it added.

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