Dana Airline wins FAAN award
IN what families of the June 3 Dana
Airline plane crash victims may find offensive, the Federal Airport Authority
of Nigeria (FAAN) at the weekend named the airline as the best domestic carrier
for 2011. According to FAAN’s Regional General
Manager, Mr. Chris Bature, while the airline was chosen for its good customer
relations and prompt payment of dues, Lufthansa Airlines was also selected as
the best international carrier for the same period.
The Dana plane crash killed the entire
153 passengers and crew members on board, in addition to other victims in the
residential area where the doomed plane slammed into. Various buildings were
also destroyed. The Federal Government promptly seized its license, but
restored it 93 days after the crash, provoking outrage across the country.
Speaking at the occasion, Bature stated
that the airline was selected because of its outstanding performance. His words:
“Mode of selection includes passenger capacity, frequency of the landing and
take-off, their response to payment of bills. Among the domestic carriers, they
were the best. They had the best volume, they were punctual in their
operations.”
Reacting to a question on the timing of
the award, Bature explained that the award would have taken place earlier in
the year. He also observed that the reward came after the operator’s license
had been restored. “In all fairness, they did their best and we need to recognise
that and encourage them to get back to their feet,” he added.
Dana’s Station Manager at the Abuja
airport, Mr. Kayode Adeniran, stated that the airline’s commitment to best
customer service and timely departure earned it the award. He said: “We have
this policy in our company that we must not delay passengers and we introduced
another type of system. If your flight is delayed by 40 minutes, we give
refreshments to all passengers that already had their boarding passes. So
people were so impressed by our service.”
However, he lamented over the loss of
lives occasioned by the crash, stressing that the operator visited and
commiserated with the families of the deceased.
To prevent a recurrence, the station
manager revealed that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has embarked
on an investigation to ascertain when the airline would be allowed to commence
operations.
He said the airline has commenced demonstration
flights as stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
He also said that the operation would run until NCAA certifies the carrier fit
to resume full operations
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