Nigerian carrier, Aero Contractors, has commenced daily flights from Lagos to Yola via Abuja.
Interim Station Manager, Aero Contractors, Mr AbdulMalik Musa, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos.
According to Musa, the airline, which is repositioning its scheduled and fixed wing operations as it increases aircraft in its fleet, marked its inaugural flight to Yola on Tuesday, March 26, with high load factor.
He said that the airline’s Boeing 737-500 aircraft touched down at the Yola International Airport at exactly 6:00 p.m. to a ceremonial water salute by the airport firefighters and excited passengers.
Musa said the flight, which was operated by the airline’s Chief Pilot, Capt. Imoleayo Adebule, was received by top aviation personnel and dignitaries in Adamawa.
He said that the airline had also started with a promo fare of N18,500 for Yola to Abuja and N20,000 for Yola to Lagos which is a two-hour flight.
“This is to attract potential passengers who travel regularly on the route,’’ Musa said.
He said the airline’s Yola flight departs Lagos 3:20 p.m. daily and arrives Abuja 4:35 p.m. before departing for Yola at 5:00 p.m and arriving at 6:10 p. m.
Musa said the airline had decided to make it a night stop in Yola and early morning departure to enable business people to meet their morning schedule in Abuja and Lagos.
He said it was a deliberate business strategy as Aero was the only airline out of the three other carriers operating to Yola with a night stop in Yola and morning departure.
Musa said the airline would continue to provide on-time and excellent in-flight service on the route.
“We are fully prepared for this service. That is how we want to keep it. The schedule is morning departure.
“We commenced boarding at 7:00 a. m and by 7:30 p.m, we are out of this place.
“We decided to pick this time for the numerous passengers in Yola because some of them are business people and working class people.
“They can be in Abuja at 8:30 a.m. to meet the office hours and their business schedule as well as in Lagos at 10:30 a.m. and be able to come back if they wish,” he said.
