Indefinite suspension of Azman Air operations
August 15, 2024
On 12 August 2024, Azman Air announced that it had indefinitely suspended its operations, according to the Nigerian newspaper The Guardian.
Azman Air Services Limited is a Nigerian-based domestic airline originally established in 2010. It began operations from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano in 2014, initially using a pair of Boeing 737-500 aircraft. In October 2017, Azman Air leased an Airbus A330 from Egyptian charter airline Air Leisure for international routes to both the Middle East and Asia, principally serving Haj traffic to Saudi Arabia. The airline had returned to only flying domestic routes within Nigeria by early 2020.
Azman Air subsequently acquired a former Virgin Airbus A340-600, which began commercial operations in September 2021
Azman Air announced a suspension of its services to all destinations in Nigeria on 17 March 2021, to enable the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to conduct an audit of the airline following a number of incidents.
The latest suspension was triggered because all of Azman Air’s Boeing Boeing 737s (two Boeing B737-300s, and four B737-500s) are due (or already undergoing) C-checks, though high operating costs have also been given as a reason for the suspension. Staff have been asked to take unpaid leave until flying resumes.
