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Tag: Arik Air

  • Arik Air denies suspending Lagos-Accra flights

    Arik Air denies suspending Lagos-Accra flights

    • As Aero, Dana Air withdraw from route

    Arik Air on Thursday said it has not suspended flight operations to Accra, Ghana.

    But, Aero and Dana Airlines have temporarily suspended operations on the route, for reasons industry hinted borders on limited access to foreign exchange, non-availability of aircraft to service the route and other factors.

    Arik Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, Suraj Sundaram said the airline is still operating between the Lagos-Accra and Abuja-Accra routes and is not contemplating suspension of flights as claimed by a section of the media.

    “We have been consistent since commencing the Accra route in January 2008 and we remain the largest airline on that route offering the largest capacity and choice of flights not only connecting Nigeria to Ghana but also onwards from Ghana to other West African nations,” Sundaram said.

    Arik Air started Accra operations with one daily fight and the airline has scaled this operation over the years into five flights out of Lagos and Abuja.

    Arik Air is the first African carrier to have truly established a ‘scissors hub’ at Accra airport, meaning that flights from Lagos and Abuja arrive in Accra within a few minutes of each other, and then depart onwards to other West African cities from Accra nonstop.

    “This enables both Northern and Southern Nigeria to be connected to destinations like Banjul and Dakar conveniently via Accra in both directions.

    “In addition, Arik Air is the largest international airline out of Ghana operating to six cities nonstop from Accra. These include Freetown, Banjul, Dakar, Monrovia, Lagos and Abuja.

    “We will continue to invest in and further expand the Ghanaian market based on the strong support and patronage, we have received from the people of Ghana over the past eight years,” Arik Air’s Chief Commercial Officer added.

    A source close to Aero said the decision to temporarily stop operating in Accra is part of restructuring by the airline.

    He said: “The decision to stop flights into Accra is not directly linked to foreign exchange difficultly.  
    “Aero is restructuring, the will have impact on many areas of flight operations.”

    Spokesman of DANA Air, Kingsley Ezenwa said the decision to stop Accra flight operations is temporal.

  • Arik Air gives conjoined twins free tickets to New York for surgery

    Arik Air gives conjoined twins free tickets to New York for surgery

    Conjoined twins, Miracle and Testimony Ayeni, are set to leave for New York, United States for surgery. Arik Air has provided return tickets for them.

    A statement yesterday said: “The airline is offering this support in partnership with Linking Hands Foundation, a non-governmental organisation which has secured free medical treatment for the twins at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

    “Arik Air will be sponsoring the twins as the airline’s own little way of not only ensuring that the Ayeni twins get needed medical treatment speedily but also to assist the family in reducing some of the financial burden associated with this trip.

    “The founder of Linking Hands Foundation, Efe Farinre while thanking Arik Air for accepting to fly the twins and their family said Miracle and Testimony Ayeni were born on 16th November, 2015, at St. Patrick Hospital Enugu, to Mr Samuel Olusegun Ayeni and Mrs Mary Abiodun Ayeni, both of Kogi State, Nigeria. The twin girls who are conjoined in the pelvic region were taken to The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu immediately after delivery. They were moved to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) on 22nd April and have been under medical supervision.”

    Farinre said: “We are grateful to Arik Air for linking hands with us to give Miracle and Testimony Ayeni the opportunity to have individual lives. Through this invaluable support, Arik Air has given the twins a chance to live and yet again demonstrated leadership in corporate social responsibility.”

    Arik Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, Suraj Sundaram, said: “Arik Air has been committed to the community since its inception having contributed to various charitable activities through a number of events, programs and initiatives. In this instance, our support will enable these twins access to specialized medical care and give them an opportunity to build a healthy and productive future they deserve.”

  • Ooni endorses Arik Air

    Ooni endorses Arik Air

    Arik Air  has received a royal endorsement from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II.

    Last Wednesday, the  foremost traditional ruler and a large entourage including some traditional rulers from the South West States demonstrated his support for Nigerian brands by flying  Arik Air from Lagos to New York on a tour of America.

    The First Class Monarch, who travelled from Lagos to New York aboard Arik Air’s A330-200 aircraft that departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for JF Kennedy Airport, New York, said his patronage by flying the airline is to prove the point that you cannot be wrong by patronizing your own .

    He said :  “I am an apostle of made-in-Nigeria and that is why everything you see on me except my wrist watch are 100 per cent made in Nigeria”.

    Speaking with a team from Arik Air led by the Chief Pilot, Captain Adetokunbo Adekunbi, who were on hand to usher him to the departure lounge of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ooni Ogunwusi in company with his wife, Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi, said his decision to fly Arik Air to New York was a deliberate one aimed at reinforcing the need to patronize Nigerian brands.

    He commended the management of Arik Air for flying the flag of Nigeria high and pledged to use his position to get Nigerians to patronize the airline.

    Reiterating his foremost position in Yoruba land, Ooni Ogunwusi stated that his flying Arik Air with other traditional rulers will bring good fortune to the airline.

    The Ooni’s entourage numbering over 50 had not less than 10 other Yoruba traditional rulers from Oyo, Osun and Ekiti States.

  • Arik Air gets royal endorsement

    • Says supporting Nigerian brands is good for business
    Arik Air  has received a royal endorsement from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II.
    Last Wednesday, the  foremost traditional ruler and a large entourage including some traditional rulers from the South West States demonstrated his support for Nigerian brands by flying  Arik Air from Lagos to New York on a tour of America.
    The First Class Monarch who travelled from Lagos to New York aboard Arik Air’s A330-200 aircraft that departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for JF Kennedy Airport, New York said his patronage by flying the airline is to prove the point that you cannot be wrong  your own .
    He said:  “I am an apostle of made-in-Nigeria and that is why everything you see on me except my wrist watch are hundred  per cent made in Nigeria.”
    Speaking with a team from Arik Air led by the Chief Pilot, Captain Adetokunbo Adekunbi, who were on hand to usher him to the departure lounge of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ooni Ogunwusi in company with his wife, Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi, said his decision to fly Arik Air to New York was a deliberate one aimed at reinforcing the need to patronize Nigerian brands. 
    He commended the management of Arik Air for flying the flag of Nigeria high and pledged to use his position to get Nigerians to patronize the airline.
    Reiterating his foremost position in Yoruba land, Ooni Ogunwusi stated that his flying Arik Air with other traditional rulers will bring good fortune to the airline.
    The Ooni’s entourage numbering over 50 had not less than 10 other Yoruba traditional rulers from Oyo, Osun and Ekiti States.
  • Eid-il-fitri: Airliners decry low turnout, blame economy

    Eid-il-fitri: Airliners decry low turnout, blame economy

    The Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos on Tuesday recorded low turnout of passengers travelling out of the country, unlike the usual population during festive periods.

    A visit by The Nation correspondent revealed that the lobbies were almost deserted as most people were either celebrating the Eid-el-fitri celebration or enjoying the holidays.

    Speaking with The Nation, Mr Ali James, an Arik Air excess luggage supervisor said that “On normal days people travel, but the festive season doesn’t really mean that more people would travel.”

    According to James, the people are not really crowded in the departure during this time, but during other festive seasons like New Year.

    Similarly, one of the airline workers, simply identified as Mrs Olololade, said everywhere is dry and scanty because people can’t bear the burden of airplane tickeks.

    She said everything started with the country’s economy adding that it is not favourable even to the aircraft because it has made travelling tickets much costly.

    “The tickets are now times three of what it used to be. Before the flight for Emirate airline was N120,000 but is now N270,000.

    In his observation, Mr Onyii said that some airlines don’t accept local currency like the United States and some other international airlines.”

  • Demuren to FG: Resolve Bi- Courtney concession row

    Demuren to FG: Resolve Bi- Courtney concession row

    Federal Government has been called upon to urgently resolve the crisis surrounding its agreement with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, BASL, in order to drive the  development in the aviation sector.

    Speaking on the topic, ‘Integrating Aviation in Economic National Planning,’ at a two-day International Air Transport Association, IATA, in Abuja, former director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, said it is pertinent for government to involve private investors in its plans to drive the development of the sector.

    Demuren however said for investors to embrace the sector, the current crisis on the public-private participation, PPP, involving BASL should be appropriately addressed. Demuren warned that without amicable resolution of this, private investors would be skeptical to come into the sector

    He said: “There is need for PPP in aviation in Nigeria as it is obvious that government cannot do it all. But with the experience of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two, MMA2, Lagos, government has not shown good faith. Such crisis in the MMA2 PPP must be resolved, or else investors would not invest their resources in the sector.”

    Speaking in the same vein, managing director of Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue, urged government to reach an agreement with BASL for the industry to move forward. Discussing the topic, ‘Proliferation of Taxes and Charges in Aviation,’ Ndulue declared that the operators are not happy with the level of infrastructure provided by the Federal Government despite the high charges and taxes imposed on the operating carriers in the industry.

    Ndulue specifically said private investors would be in the best position to offer qualitative services to airline operators, but insisted that this may not be possible with the present crisis surrounding the BASL agreement with the government.

    He urged government to resolve the issue, stressing that once this is done in a transparent manner, more private investors would come to the sector.

    He said: “Nobody is happy with charges and services rendered by government in the Nigerian aviation industry. It is important that the issue of Bi-Courtney is resolved so that we can move on. Private investors need to come into the sector because as time goes, government won’t be able to provide the services it presently renders.”

    It would be recalled that the crisis, especially over the years of operations of the terminal before handing it over to government has engulfed the agreement between the Federal Government and BASL. While BASL claimed that the agreement was for 36 years, the Federal Government said it was for 12 years. Also, BASL, since inception has not been able to operate regional flights from the terminal as spelt out in the agreement.

  • Aviation fuel scarcity disrupts flight operations at Lagos airport

    The lingering scarcity of aviation fuel on Monday disrupted flight operations at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) and the General Aviation Terminal of the airport in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some domestic airlines had to re-schedule or cancel most of their flights following their inability to procure aviation fuel for their aircraft.

    NAN gathered that among the airlines affected were Aero Contractors, Dana, Azman, First Nation and Peace Airline.

    Some passengers travelling to Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Owerri and Enugu were left stranded and frustrated when the cancellation of their flights were announced through the airport’s public address system.

    The situation prompted some of them to rush to Arik Air counter to purchase tickets as the airline was among the few having hitch-free operations.

    A passenger, Mrs. Chioma Akabueze, told NAN that she was booked on a 10:00am flight in one of the affected airlines, but was later informed that all the airline’s flights for the day had been cancelled.

    “The announcement was made around 4:30pm and it is very disappointing. I was supposed to hold a meeting with a client in Owerri by 2:00pm and now, I have to reschedule,’’ she said.

    Another traveller, Mr. Emma Akanni, said he had to pay a tout N40,000 to get him an Arik Air one-way ticket to Abuja, though the airline charges N51,600 for a to and fro ticket for the same destination.

     

  • N12.5bn indebtedness: Arik owes us not FAAN – Bi-Courtney

    N12.5bn indebtedness: Arik owes us not FAAN – Bi-Courtney

    Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd (BASL), operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, on Sunday claimed that Arik Air was not indebted to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), but to BASL.

    Bi-Courtney made the claim in a statement signed by its Chief Operations Officer, Ms Adebisi Awoniyi, which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    NAN reports that Arik Air operations at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) were disrupted on April 20 by aviation unions and some FAAN workers, over its alleged N12.5 billion indebtedness to the agency.

    However, the statement claimed that the alleged N12.5 billion debt was part of Bi-Courtney’s legitimate revenue that FAAN had continued to appropriate, despite several legal pronouncements.

    It said: “We want the public, particularly relevant stakeholders, to note that the country’s law recognises Bi-Courtney as the genuine owner of GAT.

    “This thus makes FAAN’s continuous operation of the terminal illegal and a clear violation of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. FAAN, however, continues to defy the laws of the land.

    “It has openly and recklessly denied our company 60 per cent of its revenue by its continuous illegal operation of the GAT as a competing terminal to MMA2, even after an Arbitration Panel, a Court of Law and an Appeal Court had ruled in our favour.”

    The statement said consequently, all revenues being collected by FAAN at the GAT, including the contentious N12.5 billion, belonged to Bi-Courtney.

    It said: “The implication of this is that both FAAN and Arik Air are indeed fighting over monies that lawfully belong to Bi-Courtney.

    “We also wish to categorically confirm that all the airlines operating at the GAT are actively involved in FAAN’s act of illegality, because they are all aware of the position of the law in respect of the ownership of the terminal.”

    According to the statement, particular judgments confirming the owner of GAT as Bi-Courtney include the 2009 ruling of Justice J. Chikere of the Abuja Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CJ/50/2009.

    It said the same judgment was reaffirmed in a ruling on February 13, 2013 by Justice A.R. Mohammed of the same court, in a suit filed by FAAN and the Ministry of Aviation, asking the court to declare that they were not bound by the ruling of Chikere.

    The statement said Mohammed, in his ruling, had stated categorically that by suing the Attorney-General of the Federation, Bi-Courtney’s suit was binding on all agencies of the Federal Government.

  • AON pledges to pay NCAA all unremitted funds in full

    The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has pledged to ensure that all outstanding debts are paid to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as agreed.
    This assurance was given during a meeting between the management of the regulatory authority led by the director general, Capt. Muhtar Usman and the Airline Operators at the NCAA Conference Room yesterday .
    Speaking on behalf of the operators, the AON Chairman, Capt. Noggie Meggison remarked that it is incontrovertible that operators are heavily indebted but promised that all unremitted funds will be fully paid.
    He thanked the  director general for holding a series of meetings with all operators, a move he said was long expected. Meggison therefore requested for similar fora¨ where the Authority’s vision will be properly articulated from time to time to enable us key into it.’’
    He, however, called for a retreat where stakeholders will meet to brainstorm on some knotty challenges which operators and the entire industry is confronted with.
    In his response, Capt.Usman enjoined the airlines to comply as agreed because the issue of Ticket and Cargo Sales Charges is sacrosanct. According to him, this is to enable the Authority and other benefiting Agencies effectively carry out its regulatory and Statutory responsibilities.
    The Director General and the NCAA management emphasized the need for automation by operators which will offer real-time and transparent transaction. He directed that all reconciliations must be done within the 60 days window provided.
    He advised the operators to forward all required documentations to verify conflicting claims.
    Capt. Usman admonished the operators to be alive to their responsibilities and challenges.
    He urged operators to take advantage of various Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) entered into by the federal government to compete with their foreign counterparts thereby generating the much needed foreign exchange.
    Usman assured the operators that there will be a broader stakeholders’ forum very soon where various grievances could be looked into and addressed and charge the operators to fully embrace the automation  for the sake of transparency and an end to discrepancy over figures forthwith.
    Over 20 airlines chief executives and their representatives attended the meeting. These include Arik Air, Medview, FirstNation, Chanchangi, Kings Airlines, Overland among others some of who also contributed richly to the issue of the day while the meeting lasted.

  • Debt: Arik Air resumes claims payment of N18.9bn to FAAN

    Debt: Arik Air resumes claims payment of N18.9bn to FAAN

    Arik Air on Thursday claimed that it had paid a total sum of N18.9 billion to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from January 2007 till date.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Managing Director of Arik Air, Mr Chris Ndulue, made the claim while briefing aviation correspondents in Lagos.

     

    NAN reports that the airline’s operations at the Murtala Muhammed Airport were disrupted on Wednesday by aviation unions and some FAAN workers, over its alleged N12.5 billion indebtedness to the agency.

     

    However, Ndulue, while apologising to the airline’s passengers for the inconveniences caused by the development, confirmed that Arik Air had resumed both domestic and international operations.

     

    He noted that it was very strange that while the airline’s records showed the payment of N18.9 billion, FAAN claimed that it received only N11.4 billion.

     

    According to him, every efforts have been made over the years to reconcile the disputed figures, including the setting up of a ministerial committee by the former Permanent Secretary of the aviation ministry, Mrs Binta Bello.

     

    Ndulue said while the committee was still trying to resolve the issue, FAAN instituted a suit against the airline in October 2015 at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

     

    He said FAAN again informed the court on Feb.3, 2016 that parties should be allowed to explore an amicable resolution to the dispute by appointing an independent auditor, to reconcile the figures.

     

    “So the issue of whether Arik Air is indebted or not to FAAN has been put before a competent court in a suit initiated by the agency.

     

    “For FAAN to resort to self-help or by its staff is an affront on the Federal High Court and the Nigerian State.

     

    “A situation whereby staff of FAAN and union members turn themselves into debt collection agents, on behalf of the Federal Government is absurd,” Ndulue said.

     

    Also speaking, the Chairman of Arik Air, Mr Arumemi Ikhide, confirmed that the airline’s management had met with the Minister of State for Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, over the unions’ action.

     

    “We are prepared and want to pay for services rendered, but we will not be bullied. What happened yesterday (Wednesday) is not good for the image of the country,’’ he added.