Founded in 1959 and formally incorporated in Nigeria in 1960, Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria stands as the nation’s oldest surviving airline, with a storied presence in both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aviation. Originally established by Schreiner Airways of the Netherlands, the company transitioned to Nigerian majority ownership in line with the country’s indigenisation policy—first 40% in 1973, and later 60% by 1976.
For over six decades, Aero has played a pioneering role in Nigeria’s aviation sector, particularly in servicing the oil and gas industry through offshore helicopter operations and reliable passenger services. Its Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility—located at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos—is West and Central Africa’s only indigenous MRO outfit capable of performing full C-checks and even 6C/D-checks on Boeing 737 classics.
In 2016, Aero faced severe operational challenges during Nigeria’s economic downturn. However, following intervention by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the appointment of Captain Ado Sanusi as Managing Director/CEO in 2017, the company underwent a comprehensive turnaround. Under Captain Sanusi’s leadership, Aero has expanded both its fixed-wing and rotary-wing operations, reinforced its footprint in the energy logistics sector, and restored stakeholder confidence.
Today, Aero Contractors operates across several divisions: scheduled passenger services, charter operations, rotary-wing services, MRO, aviation training, and ground handling. The company has also invested significantly in technology—most notably with a ₦200 million deployment of Ramco Aviation MRO software—to digitise its maintenance operations and set new benchmarks for efficiency and compliance in the region.
With a renewed vision and modernised operations, Aero Contractors continues to anchor Nigeria’s aviation history while positioning itself as a regional aviation powerhouse.
