Aero Contractors CEO Raises Concern Over Rising Passenger Misconduct, Calls for Holistic Solutions
Aero Contractors’ managing director, Capt. Ado Sanusi, has stated that the current rise in disruptive behaviors among travelers is cause for concern and should not be taken lightly.
In a conversation with our correspondent, Sanusi stated that the problems facing the industry cannot be separated from the current threats; rather, they are signs of a much more serious problem.
He emphasized that the country’s airlines have extremely narrow profit margins and that the aviation agencies, particularly the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), were also impacted by this financial crisis.
He said the moment was right for the government to take action against the industry’s growing problems, beginning with a comprehensive examination of the regulatory environment and how it is enforced.
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According to him, it has become painfully evident that recent events—from a passenger who was allegedly violently restrained for refusing to turn off her phone to instances where people use their “celebrity status” to evade responsibility—are not isolated incidents but rather signs of a much larger problem in our aviation sector.
The main cause of the issue is that airlines are running on extremely low profit margins. Both the carriers’ and the regulator’s financial fragility make the system unstable, reactive, and frequently unfair.
A comprehensive, systemic overhaul is required rather than a band-aid solution. This includes a thorough examination of the regulatory environment and enforcement culture, a close examination of the oversight and accountability practices of airlines and service providers, and the development of mechanisms that fairly protect passengers’ rights.
He issued a warning that if the government did not take the required steps to examine the current system, the annoyances may worsen and the system’s safety would be even more at risk.
“We need to stop covering up cracks and address the underlying cause,” he suggested.
