Galley FM Gist

These are indeed rough times for the oldest local Airline in Naija. I hear more than 60 Cabin Crew out of the more than One Hundred Cabin Crew may be affected. However because of the nature of their Job, the company is considering their redesignation to Ground Services where their services will be required at the Ticketing and Customer Services departments. This decision is being taken within the Purview of the management, to have them recalled easily when the company’s situation improves, rather than recruiting and training afresh which usually takes time. The decision i hear, has however raised concerns amongst some staffs about their suitability for ticketing role when they have not actually received training in that area.

The up to 50% Contract staffs will also be affected in the downsizing and cost cutting exercise.

Inactive Pilots and Expatriates are not left out as the Airline’s Aircraft fleet has depleted considerably.

The Company has decided to place some permanent staffs on a one year leave of absence without pay, whilst still entitled to some benefits earlier enjoyed.

The Staff union of the Airline is however not comfortable with this arrangement and insists they must be paid off. Their area of Concern is that staff who are being laid off work for such a period of time should be entitled to severance pay as no one is sure of how the situation will play out within the next one year.

The Gist is that as of today the company is down to 2 Boeing and 2 Dash 8. Sources reveal that by June these Boeing Aircrafts will be due for maintenance. Now the mind- boggling questions: what happens when the Aircrafts are due?  “How did the Airline get here? And how will the Airline come out of this?”

I can only imagine the enormous task the Ceo is grappling with right now. If the Airline can survive this tsunami, then the Company can survive anything.

God help this Airline! We just cant have another big airline go down.