The COVID-19 lockdown saw many domestic flights suffering with dozens of aircraft trapped at maintenance facilities abroad.
The ease of the lockdown has coincided with exchange rates climbing and airlines struggling.
Our correspondent analyses what is happening in the sector.
Despite the restart of the aviation industry last year after the outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown, it is not Uhuru yet for domestic airline operators. Dozens of aircraft are stranded abroad amidst the second wave of the pandemic, our correspondent reports, adding that the situation has been compounded by the sharp rise in foreign exchange rates, which has disrupted airlines’ operations.
Passengers have experienced delays and occasionally cancellations of flights attributed to operational reasons by domestic airlines still struggling to recover from last year’s lockdown.
With the ease of the lockdown, many operators had hoped for timely delivery of aircraft that were stranded abroad during the lockdown when most Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities shut down.
Daily Trust learned that the lockdown coincided with the time many aircraft belonging to the domestic carriers were due for a comprehensive check for which they must be flown abroad as the country does not have the required MRO facilities.
Read more: https://dailytrust.com/why-domestic-airlines-still-struggle-after-covid-19-lockdown
