The management of a Nigerian airline stripped of its operating licence was not given reasons for the action, it has emerged.

“No specific reason was given for the action,” said Mr. Tony Usidamen, Head, Corporate Communications at Dana Air.

Usidamen announced with regret “the temporary suspension of our flight operations following a directive from the Ministry of Aviation through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority on Saturday, March 16, 2013.”

“A meeting is, however, scheduled between the management of Dana Air, the Ministry of Aviation and the NCAA on Monday, March 18, and we will update you as we get more information. We thank you for your patience and understanding, and we look forward to having the pleasure of welcoming you on board again shortly,” he added.

Dana Air was first suspended after one of its aircraft crashed in June 2012 in Lagos, killing all 153 persons on board and 10 others on ground. It was however allowed to resume flights in September, despite an inquiry into the cause of the crash not yet being complete.

As a fallout of the crash, President Goodluck Jonathan last week sacked Dr. Harold Demuren, Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), as recommended by the Senate Committee on Aviation, which also recommended the revocation of Dana’s operating licence, saying it was not issued in line with standard safety procedures.

•Photo: Tony Usidamen, Head, Corporate Communications, Dana.