Dana Air has announced the commencement of its operational audit as advised by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and that it is fully cooperating with the NCAA to ensure its quick return to flight operations.

This development is coming few hours after the NCAA suspended the airline, following the outcome of a financial and economic health audit carried out on the airline by the authority, and the findings of an investigation conducted on the airline’s flight operations recently, which revealed that Dana Airlines is no longer in a position to meet its financial obligations and to conduct safe flight operations.

Operational Audits are regulatory and airlines are required to suspend their operations when the regulator calls for it.

Dana Air in a statement on Thursday stated that it is confident that having been successful in previous audits, it will come back even stronger and better.

It explained that the audit is also an opportunity for Dana to prove once again and reassure its guests, clients and partners that it remains strong, safe, efficient and reliable.

Read also: NCAA suspends Dana Air’s operations indefinitely

“As an airline, we are not insulated from the multiple challenges airlines and the aviation industry is grappling with daily which includes the recent skyrocketing cost of aviation fuel at N830/ltr, unavailability of forex, Ground Handling services, inflation, multiple taxation amongst other operational challenges which airlines have made frantic efforts to communicate to the flying public and the government.

“While this short stay off the market remains painful and heartbreaking for us, our customers, clients and partners, we remain very hopeful and very confident of our position,” the airline stated.

The airline assured that offices will remain open to its travel partners, clients and customer service will still be operational 24/7 as always to assist customers with necessary information.

“Our customers with unused tickets have also been advised to apply for refunds by sending an email to [email protected] with their details and we will try and resolve it in a timely manner.

“Wish to sincerely apologize to all affected customers, clients and travel partners for any inconveniences caused and crave your understanding and patience in the cause of this audit,” the airline stated.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

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