Why Air Peace Sacked Over 70 Pilots

Over 70 pilots have reportedly been relieved of their duty by Air Peace, a Nigerian airline.

The company also cut the pay of other staff from one percent to 40 percent.

In a statement issued by Air peace spokesman, Stanley Olisa, the company described the move as “painful”, stating that it was due to the damaging impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

It said, “The Management of Air Peace wishes to state that it has taken a very painful but rightful decision, in the circumstances the airline has found itself as a result of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations and financial health to terminate the employment of some of its pilots.

“This decision was taken for the greater good of the company and its almost 3000 workforce, the affected pilots inclusive.

“The airline cannot afford to toe the path of being unable to continue to fulfil its financial obligations to its staff, external vendors, aviation agencies, maintenance organizations, insurance companies, banks and other creditors hence the decision to restructure its entire operations with a view to surviving the times.”

Although the airline did not specify the number of staff disengaged, the Punch newspaper quoted that inside ‘sources’ revealed the figure.

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Confirming the pay cut, the company said, “we decided to review the salaries being paid to all staff. The new salaries reflect a 0 percent to 40 percent cut of the former salary depending on the salary grades of every staff.”

The airline, however, noted that the sacked staff may be reabsorbed into its workfoce when the current economic downtown blows over.

The Federal Government of Nigeria reopened the country’s airports for commercial operations on July 8, after three months of closure necessitated by the outbreak of Covid-19.