COVID-19 Aviation sector loss over 50% passengers, $US371 revenues-Wabba

….it is commonsensical to owe aviation workers’ entitlements

By allcitynews.ng

The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba has bemoaned the lost of over 50 per cent flight passengers due to activities of COVID-19 in 2020.

Wabba who made this known today during the 15th National Delegates
Conference of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers
(NAAPE), in Abuja said the sector lost over $US371 in year 2020 because of the pandemic.

Addressing the gathering, Wabba decried the anti-human activities by employers in the industry that are owing pilots and engineers’ any form of entitlements based on the sensitiveness of their job.

“It is heart breaking that despite the sacrifices and commitment invested
in the service of humanity by our aircraft pilots and engineers, they are
subjected to some of the most horrendous industrial mistreatments.”

“In the same vein, he said, “aviation sector where the sanity of air pilots and engineers is critical to their
application to duty and to the safety of the passengers they carry, we
hear of salary deductions, freezes and stoppages. This is a perfect recipe
for disaster. It is only commonsensical that those in whose hands lie the
fate of hundreds of lives and millions of dependents must not only be
well taken care but must be seen to be well taken care of.”

According to him, aviation industry plays a very crucial role in supporting global business and productivity. At the heart of this great haul of people,
goods and services are aircraft pilots and engineers.

Beautiful and sophisticated airplanes cannot fly themselves. They need well trained personnel to fly and service them. We commend our air pilots and
engineers for the frontline services you rendered to all of us during the
hey days of COVID-19. You made the movement of essential provisions
including testing kits, medicines, masks, respirators, oxygen cylinders,
food, and other critical life supporting materials.

Timing was so critical for these supplies and the world relied on your broad shoulders.The world still depends on the services of aircraft pilots and engineers.

“As we experience the intermittent waves and resurgence of the deadly
corona virus disease and as the production of COVID-19 vaccines
continue to expand across the world, a lot of airlifting is required to
bridge the gap between production and availability of essential life-
saving supplies for those in the morbid grasp of COVID-19.

“Indeed, COVID-19 has taught us that aircraft pilots and engineers do not only carry the fate of passengers in an aircraft even the lives of patients in
the hospital depend on your work.”