BEVERLY HILLS, July 29, (THEWILL) – A Togolese air carrier, ASKY Airlines, Tuesday, said the travelling restriction imposed on the Airlines by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over the outbreak of Ebola epidemic in West Africa, is seriously affecting passengers within the region, urging NCAA to reconsider its position on suspending ASKY airline’s operations into Nigeria.
The Director General of ASKY Airlines, Yissehak Zewoldi, who made the plea, said in a statement seen by THEWILL, that since the initial outbreak of the Ebola virus in Guinea Conakry in February and the recent spread in Liberia and Sierra Leone, the airline had been highly concerned and taking measures to avoid further spread.
He said he had written to the Director General of NCAA twice already on the measures taken so far and his full commitment to closely work with all authorities, governments and organisations in the fight against the spread of the disease.
He noted that ASKY is determined to keep its passengers and staff safe during this period, adding that the carrier is following the situation closely and will issue updates as the situation changes. Zewoldi said ASKY is “considered to be the biggest carrier with a very large network within the West and Central Africa region,” adding “ the carrier has constantly followed up all developments in collaboration with airport authorities, the World Health Organisation – WHO, Ministries of Health and the Civil aviation to implement collective preventive measures against the spread of this deadly disease – Ebola in suspected areas.”
He listed measures taken so far to include the stopping of food uplift, stopping of overnighting of crew, re-enforcing aircraft disinfection, implementing sanitary items such as gloves, antiseptic liquids, etc as well as strict control of the transportation of perishable goods and food items.
The statement read in part: “The management of ASKY airlines received with great astonishment from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority – NCAA this 28 July 2014, the decision to stop all operations into Nigeria, precisely Lagos and Abuja.
“In both letters sent to the Director General of NCAA, the airlines clearly pointed out all measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus in collaboration with the local civil aviation authority in Lome – Togo. These measures include; ASKY has suspended all flights to Sierra Leone and Liberia; ASKY has stopped uplifting food at Conakry; ASKY passengers departing from Conakry are screened for signs of the virus before boarding; Medical professionals have been deplored with full presence at the airports in Lome, in collaboration with the Togolese Ministry of Health, the Civil Aviation Authorities and airport authorities; ASKY has fully distributed sanitary materials, including gloves, disinfectant liquids, respiratory and mouth nets, to all crew members and ground operations staffs, in order to prevent any contamination.
“This traveling restriction is currently seriously affecting passengers within the region and the airline reiterated to NCAA to reconsider its position on suspending ASKY airline’s operations into Nigeria.”
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