"The information was very poorly passed by the aeronautical regulator, it is not general maintenance of the aircraft, it is just a component change, a part in the undercarriage whose replacement was already scheduled since September, but that the supplier in the United States, due to the restrictions of the pandemic, can only deliver at the end of December," said Elvis Manzambi.
The company's communications director, in statements to Lusa, explained that the general maintenance of the aircraft is not at issue, but rather a component of the landing gear.
"The deadline [for this component change] was at the end of November and on that same day we stopped the operation of the aircraft and warned passengers that we would suspend the operation during December," explained Manzambi.
The company's spokesman added that the problem is the difference between general maintenance and maintenance of that specific component of the undercarriage.
"ANAC said that 'after the deadline, they should carry out general maintenance', but it wasn't on the plane, it was on that component, and that caused a great deal of confusion among the public, the media and our partners, such as Embraer and other companies. Europeans who are questioning themselves about what is going on," he continued.
"We expected the regulator, after seeing the headlines, to explain that there is neither a ban nor a suspension, but only a replacement for a component of the plane, and that the plane would then return to flying regularly," said Elvis Manzambi.
Fly Angola flies from Luanda to Saurimo (Lunda Sul), Dundo (Lunda Norte), Lubango (Huíla), Luena (Moxico) and Moçâmedes (Namibe).
