LAGOS/Nigeria: The Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Stephen Arthur, has said that reliance on overseas aircraft maintenance significantly increases airline operating costs, a burden that is ultimately transferred to passengers through higher airfares.
Arthur made the remarks after touring the Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) facilities of Aero Contractors in Lagos, where he noted that ferrying aircraft to Europe or the United States for maintenance adds substantial expenses to airline operations.
According to him, the presence of a well-equipped maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility within the sub-region offers a cost-effective alternative for airlines operating in West and Central Africa.
He expressed delight at the standard of facilities on ground, praising the modern equipment and depth of technical expertise available at the Aero Contractors AMO. “This is unique by all standards. I least expected to see what we witnessed today, especially from this part of the continent,” Arthur said.
The GCAA boss observed that many passengers underestimate the impact of maintenance, repairs and overhauls on overall airline costs, stressing that the absence of local facilities forces airlines to absorb additional operational expenses.
“If such facilities are unavailable locally, airlines incur extra operational costs, which are eventually translated to the paying passenger,” he said.
Arthur explained that proximity to maintenance facilities reduces crew-related expenses, fuel consumption, navigation charges and aircraft downtime, adding that shorter maintenance turnaround times improve efficiency and deliver significant cost savings to airlines.
He described the Aero Contractors MRO as a major boost for Ghana, ECOWAS member states and the wider African aviation industry, urging stakeholders to support and patronise the facility. “It is good news to celebrate, patronise and promote,” he said.
Confirming that Ghana is in the process of establishing a national carrier, Arthur welcomed Aero Contractors’ existing maintenance presence in Nigeria and encouraged airlines in the region to utilise the facility to enable it expand its service offerings.
“We should encourage airlines to patronise the facility so it can expand and offer more services,” he added.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Ado Sanusi, said the airline was founded in 1959, initially providing helicopter shuttle services to the oil and gas sector before expanding into scheduled passenger operations and aircraft maintenance.
Sanusi noted that Aero Contractors was the first company to carry out C-checks on Boeing 737 Classic aircraft in West and Central Africa, underscoring its pioneering role in regional aviation maintenance.
He disclosed that the company is currently seeking approvals from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration to broaden its line and base maintenance capabilities.
The Aero Contractors boss also revealed plans by the airline to resume scheduled flight operations to Accra in the near future, further strengthening air connectivity within the West African sub-region..
