The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Arik Air

  • Arik Air donates vehicle to police

    Arik Air donates vehicle to police

    Arik Air yesterday donated a Toyota Hilux Pick-up van to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Police Command to improve security of lives and property. Commissioner of Police Mr Waheed Salau received it on behalf of the police.

    The donation, according to the Managing Director of Arik Air, Mr Chris Ndulue, was part of the series of logistic assistance programmes carried out by the airline to enhance security in its working environment.

    During the presentation at the headquarters of the airline in Lagos, Ndulue said: “Arik Air is delighted to make this presentation to the Police at the Airport as a token of our appreciation for responding to our call anytime the officers and men are called upon. We are indeed happy over this donation and we are looking forward to other things to come. Once more, we urge you to continue to secure our airports to make passengers’ traveling experience delightful. We embark on a lot of corporate social responsibility projects, but this donation appears obvious because of the publicity it has attracted.”

    Exuding excitement, the police chief thanked Arik Air for the gesture, which he described as unique. Salau added that the police were highly encouraged by the donation, noting: “The police are very excited and grateful over this van donation by Arik Air. This is historic, the very first van donation from any domestic airline.

    “We are very happy and will immediately deploy this vehicle for patrol to ensure smooth operations around the airport and ensure it is free of criminal activities. We will try to reduce criminal activities around the airport drastically.”

  • Tinapa excites with Africa International Film Festival

    Tinapa excites with Africa International Film Festival

    The Arik Air wing at the local airport in Lagos, witnessed a sparse gathering of curious passengers and airport workers, who appeared thrilled by the influx of local and foreign movie stars on ground to catch a chartered flight to Calabar, host of the ongoing Africa International Film Festival (FRIFF).

    The buzz at the Calabar airport swelled with more participants arriving enroute the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for the journey to the popular Tinapa Business Resort, where the 224 rooms at the Lakeside Hotel were overrun by guests, with a heavy spill to other hotels in the city centre.

    Between Tinapa and The Marina, another resort centre in town, which houses the popular Filmhouse, the busy traffic of film enthusiasts portrays what many described as a visible success of a festival, which started three years ago.

    Wife of the governor of Cross River Mrs. Obioma Imoke, who welcomed the delegates after a dazzling red carpet show kick-starting the week-long event on Sunday night, could not curtail her excitement: “I’m excited to be here and we are most honoured to host this event,” said Mrs Imoke, who apologised for her husband’s absence.

    Governor Liyel Imoke, she noted, had led the victorious Golden Eaglets to a national reception in Abuja.

    “You haven’t been to Nigeria if you haven’t been to Calabar,” an elated Mrs Imoke told her guests during the cocktail reception that preceded the screening of the festival’s opening movie; Of a Good Report.

    “Here is the place to be really”, she stated with emphasis, beaming with smiles. “Please get something to eat because we are known for our cuisine and I want to assure you we are going to have a blast. Cross River is the home of Tinapa, Obudu, and the 32-day long festival, which climaxes with our famous Carnival Calabar. Please have fun.”

    With such unusual brief remark by a government functionary, and bankroller of a huge budget event, such as AFRIFF 2013, the mood was set for the real business of filmmaking devoid of the usual show-off activities by government-sponsored events.

    If there was any best way to start a film festival, the choice of an opening film is a factor. AFRIFF appeared to have chosen right by screening the controversial Of a Good Report, which was banned initially in its country of origin, for what the censorship board described as its marks of child pornography. Thus, the debate started among filmmakers at the event on where to draw the line between classification and an outright ban of a work of art.

    The movie, which has been to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), among others sharply divided opinion because of its theme, graphic nature and sexually explicit scenes. Of a Good Report revolves round a teacher, who has an immoral relationship with his 16-year-old female student, puts her in the family way and procures an illegal abortion for her to cover his tracks.

    The event, which also focuses on panel discussions, workshops and master classes, has over 40 actors, directors and producers from other countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Rome, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Cameroun.

    The foreign artistes are joined by a flurry of Nollywood stars in adding verve to the event, which has Rita Dominic and Lynn Withfield as ambassadors. Others are Desmond Elliot, Kunle Afolayan, Omoni Oboli, Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki), Uche Jombo, Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha, Bharia Mcwizu, Kemi Lala-Akindoju and  OC Ukeje.

    There are also Nigerian actors and producers based in the Diaspora at the event. They include Jude Idada, Gbenga Akinnagbe and the model and actor, Ngoli Ngor Onyeka Okafor.

    AFRIFF, as its counterparts in Pan African Film Festival (FESPACO), Ouagadougou and Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), South Africa, records a remarkable celebration of the African cinema as a number of outstanding movies are being screened at Filmhouse Cinemas. There is an abundance of feature films, documentaries, short films and student short films in the festival, perhaps the largest collection so far, in a Nigerian domicilled film festival.

    Some of the films in competition at the festival include I number number, Hoodrush, Daughters of the Niger Delta, Clouds over Conakry, B for Boy, Hillside Crowd, Drama Consult, Thousand Suns and The Man Who Wanted to Move a Mountain. There is also A Mile from Home, The Virgin, the Copts and Me, Africa Shafted, The Flower Girl, Durban Poison and Creation in Exile.

    If there is a remarkable recreation that filmmakers have shared in recent times, the daily AFRIFF after-event party will be a moment to remember. The AFRIFF Village Hangout at dusk offers free drinks and finger foods amid trendy music from an in-house Disc Jockey. The level of grooving by the artistes can simply be described as wow!

    The festival will round off this Sunday; with a glamorous award ceremony where prizes will be given in 11 categories. The closing event is expected to be attended by Governor Imoke, among other government officials of Cross River.

  • Arik Air, IATA sign agreement

    Arik Air, IATA sign agreement

    Arik Air and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have signed a Weblink agreement that allows accredited travel agents direct sales into the Billing Settlement Plan (BSP) system.

    The agreement was signed by Arik Air Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue and the Director-General of IATA, Mr Tony Tyler at the IATA Aviation Day Africa conference in Lagos.

  • How pregnant passenger caused flight diversion to Spain – Arik Air

    How pregnant passenger caused flight diversion to Spain – Arik Air

    Arik Air on Monday explained how its pilot was forced to divert a London- bound aircraft carrying a pregnant woman to Palma Mallorca Airport, Spain.

    Arik Air flight W3 101, departed Lagos for London, Heathrow on Sunday, but was diverted due to the urgent medical attention required for a 12- week pregnant woman on board.

    According to the spokesman of the airline, Mr. Ola Banji, the passenger reportedly developed severe pain during the course of the flight.

    He said, “Arik Air flight W3 101 which departed Lagos for London Heathrow on Sunday, September 15, 2013 diverted to Palma Mallorca Airport, Spain at 5:44pm due to urgent medical attention required for a 12-week pregnant woman on board.

    “The passenger reportedly developed severe pain during the course of the flight. The pain was later accompaigned by bleeding associated with a suspected miscarriage.”

    The passenger, who was initially attended to by a medical doctor on board the flight, was 12 weeks pregnant.

    She was later transferred to a hospital in Mallorca for further medical attention.

    The Arik flight later departed Mallorca at 8:00pm for London Heathrow.

    “This singular act further demonstrates that Arik Air is passionate about meeting individual needs of its guests and is ready to go the extra mile to ensure that safety is not compromised no matter the cost.

    “Excellent customer care is the core philosophy of Arik Air’s business. In the air and on the ground, online and on the telephone, guests can expect respect, courtesy, fairness and care from the airline at all times.

    “This particular guest did not indicate her pregnancy status to the airline’s Passenger Service Agents (PSA) at check-in and because her pregnancy was 12 weeks, the team didn’t notice her status,” the airline spokesman said.

     

     

  • Arik Air sponsors Centenary celebration

    Arik Air sponsors Centenary celebration

    Arik Air has announced that it is playing a key role in the country’s Centenary Celebrations as an Associate Sponsor of the Centenary Pageant.

    The world-class pageant is aimed at promoting the Centenary celebrations, which marks the amalgamation of southern and northern Nigeria by Lord Lugard in 1914.

    According to the spokesman of the airline, Mr Banji Ola, an agreement was signed last week between Arik Air and AOE Events and Entertainment Limited, the company okayed by The Federal Government of Nigeria to handle the Centenary Pageant.

    Arik Air Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Mr Chris Ndulue, said: “Arik Air is honoured to be invited to play a key role in Nigeria’s Centenary celebrations. This partnership further underscores our commitment to the people of Nigeria to deliver new standards in aviation and promote that which is truly Nigerian.”

     

    AOE Events’ Creative Director, Chief Nike Oshinowo said: “This unique window, Nigeria’s Centenary Pageant, affords Arik Air the opportunity of projecting its brand in this once in a lifetime competition. Nigeria’s Centenary Pageant would take place once every One Hundred Years. This makes the Centenary Queen the most sought after title in the history of pageants in Africa.”

  • Arik Air signs $297m deal with Bombardier

    Arik Air signs $297m deal with Bombardier

    Bombardier Aero space of Canada   has announced an aircraft acquisition deal with Arik Air for three CRJ 1000 next generation and four Q400 turboprop airplanes.

    The contract for the seven aircraft according to Bombardier, is valued at approximately $297 million based on the price list rolled out by the Canadian aircraft manufacturer.

    Bombardier confirmed that Arik  Air currently operates four CRJ900 aircraft and two Q400 NextGen aircraft.

    Bombardier, which is the world’s only manufacturer of both planes and trains, is headquartered in Montreìal, Canada. The company’s shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and it is also listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, the company posted revenues of $16.8 billion.”

  • That London arrest of Arik Air cabin crew

    SIR: Concerned about the negative image the arrest of two Arik Air cabin crew members at London Heathrow has brought to Nigeria and the frightening security implications of same, I brought a motion to the floor of the House of Representatives calling for an investigation on May 23. Unfortunately, my colleagues felt otherwise and the motion was not entertained.

    Of the two crew members, Olubunmi Daramola was arrested with 6kg of cocaine with a street value of N180m concealed in her hand luggage. The second, Delita Abibimgbi was arrested for being in possession of 60 packets of cigarette also in her hand luggage.

    While I abide totally with the democratic decision of the House, I still feel personally concerned that such an incident could happen.

    Here therefore, are my personal thoughts on the matter and it is my wish that the Nigerian public sees more in the incident than just the fact of the arrest of the crew members.

    First, there is the need and urgently too, in my opinion, to condemn the action of the crew members and reassure both the United Kingdom authorities and the wider international aviation community that Nigeria will render every support and co-operation in the course of their investigation into the incident. I consider this expedient in the face of the ease with which the western press labels an entire Third World country with the negative acts of even one of its citizens; and proceed to criminalize the entire population accordingly.

    Next, we have numerous security and related aviation officials saddled with the screening and clearance of all passengers, crew and luggage at our airports. We have also invested significantly in the acquisition and deployment of modern screening equipment. So how did the two girls beat all security screening to board the flight? What protocol does the airline operators have in place to ensure that their staff members do not bring banned items and substances into their airplanes? How much background checks and profiling are undertaken in the recruitment and deployment of staff? Are there collaborators, paid from our commonwealth, but criminally circumventing the screening and flight clearance process in our airports, who are they and how do we stop them to ensure the integrity of the system?

    If it was so easy for a young cabin crew to ferry 6kg of cocaine in a handbag into the plane and over to London, how difficult then is it to take guns, bombs(IEDs), etc into the same and other planes in the face of our deteriorated security situation and what’s the implication to a beleaguered nation?

    In a terror-stricken era such as we live in, I am deeply concerned that the incident portends mortal danger to our collective physical and psychological wellbeing as a nation; especially as our airport security remains predominantly based on access control and checkpoint screening. In other climes, there is a predominant reliance on intelligence gathering/sharing, passenger profiling and staff background checks. This way those who are considered threats to civil aviation are put on a “watch list” or “no fly lists”. This adds a qualitative impetus to airport security systems.

    Our case is also compounded by very porous perimeter fences around our airports that allow people with no business in the airports easy access to them; including miscreants and possibly anti-progress elements.

    I do also hope that public pressure would be brought to bear on the relevant aviation authorities to do all that is necessary to ensure that incidences as this do not repeat or better still make it impossible for them to occur.

    • Linus Okorie,

    Member of House of Representatives

    Abuja.

  • Arik Air boss seeks direct air link between Nigeria , Brazil

    Arik Air boss seeks direct air link between Nigeria , Brazil

    THE Deputy Managing Director of Arik Air, Captain Ado Sanusi, has said the restoration of direct air link between Nigeria and Brazil will boost trade ties between them.

    According to Sanusi, Arik is expecting some larger aircraft to serve the routes, adding that this will boost the airline’s flights’ connection for passengers from West and Central Africa into South America from in Lagos.

    Speaking in Brazil, where officials of Arik met civil aviation authorities to secure traffic rights and landing slots, Sanusi said the airline is set to meet regulatory requirements by the authorities to enable it to start flights soon.

    The request for traffic rights and slot allocation into the São Paulo Airport, he said, is a follow up to the meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and his Brazilian counterpart, President Dilma Rousseff, for the restoration of air link between the two countries to boost trade relations and cultural ties. The two presidents met in Nigeria in February this year.

    He said Arik was working hard to ensure that in three months arrangements were concluded for the take-off of flights into Brazil.

    Sanusi said the carrier considers Brazil an important route for its operations, noting that it would eliminate the difficulties passengers go through to connect flights into South America, from either Europe or the Middle East.

    He said apart from saving passengers time, direct air links between the two countries would create a window for investment opportunities between them.

    Sanusi said Arik would collaborate with some Brazilian carriers to facilitate connection of flights into other airports in South America other than São Paulo and Rio De Janeiro airports.

    Sanusi, who was accompanied by the airline’s Associate Vice President, Public and Governmental Relations, Mr Lanre Bamgbose, expressed the readiness of the airline to cooperate with the Brazilian authorities in getting approval for the take-off of flights before the start of the Nigerian /Brazilian Bi- Commission conference scheduled for next August.

  • Arik, Aero, others slash fares

    Arik, Aero, others slash fares

    Domestic airline operators have reduced their fares, as part of measures to woo passengers.

    Some airline officials told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the move was to encourage travellers who could not afford the high fares.

    Arik Air, which sold its one-way ticket last week for between N30,000 and N40,000 to any destination in the country from Abuja, has reduced the fare to between N30,00 and N35,000 for economy class and N45,000 for business class.

    Also, Aero tickets, which were sold for N28,000 economy and N50,000 business class, have dropped to N21,400 and N49,000 respectively, while IRS charges between N22,000 and N25,000 for economy and N50,000 for business flyers.

    Med-View, a new airline, which started operation last week, charges between N15,000 and N19,000 for economy ticket and N49,000 on business class to Lagos.

    Aero Business Development Manager, Mark Snoxell said the airline reduced its fare to gain more business opportunities.

    He said the move would also help the airline to mitigate losses occasioned by flying with empty seats.

    An official of Arik Air, who pleaded anonymity, said two of its aircraft that were faulty on Friday had been rectified and certified by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to fly.

  • Arik Air urges CBN to review ban on loans

    Arik Air urges CBN to review ban on loans

    Arik Air has called on the the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to review its policy which banned airlines from accessing loans from any bank . It said the airline business needs huge capital to survive .

    The CBN, two months, ago barred two of the country’s top airlines from receiving any additional loans on their outstanding debts.

    Chris Ndulue, Arik Air’s Managing Director, made this call at a press conference to mark the sixth anniversary of the airline in Lagos. He said the decision by the apex bank to bar the airline from accessing loans was not the best, adding that it should be reviewed to allow it (the airline) have access to money for expansion of its operations in the interest of Nigerians.

    “We hope that the CBN will review the directive. Is not appropriate to take such stand with a big airline like ours? We have even done more than the loans we get from the banks. We have acquired a lot of aircraft and state-of the art facility. There is nothing we can do. We still need to borrow to buy aircraft. The banking system should understand this.

    “We have come a long way. We have done our beat; we will continue to borrow for the sake of expansion. We expect that the CBN will review it”, he said.

    In the wake of the ban, Ndulue had said he was surprised that the carrier was owing a ‘little’, considering the number of aircraft in its fleet.

    Also speaking, Johnson-Arumemi Ikhide, chairman of the airline, had also said: “Apart of the money the carrier owed is for guarantees, adding that the business involves a lot of capital which many are yet to understand.

    “There is a lot of ignorance in the matter; we only got N10 billion at seven per cent from the intervention fund. In the banking system alone, we have taken N8.7 billion as interest to banks in Nigeria this year. The system banking has not been fair to us.

    Aero is going through a restructuring under the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), pending the final approval by its board, which is expected very soon.”

    Meanwhile, Arik Air, Nigeria’s major carrier, is partnering Lufthansa Technik to establish an international Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in the country that would attract businesses from different parts of the world.

    Nigerian airlines lose billions of naira every year ferrying their aircraft overseas for repairs and sometimes when such MRO facilities are saturated with demands and work, the airlines will have to keep their aircraft waiting for space.

    Arumemi-Ikhide, disclosed this in Lagos.

    He said the facility would be built to meet international standards, including that of the International Aviation Safety Assessment Program (IASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States.

    The facility when completed would be one of Lufthansa’s major MRO located outside Hamburg, Germany, the headquarters of Lufthansa Technik and it is targeted to carry out overall maintenance of New Generation aircraft; that is, modern aircraft.