The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Arik Air

  • Arik Air, Irish Embassy to partner on trade

    Arik Air, Irish Embassy to partner on trade

    The Irish Embassy in Nigeria and Enterprise Ireland are seeking to partner with Arik Air on the Irish Trade Mission to Nigeria in December.

    Speaking when the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sean Hoy, led a team of Enterprise Ireland officials to Arik Aviation Centre at the  Murtala  Muhammed  Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, he said  the trade mission to Nigeria is expected to be one of the largest, adding that there would be a lot of interest in the aviation sector as there are about 250 aviation companies in Ireland.

    He said the Irish Embassy in Nigeria is committed to improving trade relations between Nigeria and Ireland.

    The Head of Africa Region, Enterprise Ireland, Mr. Fred Klinkenberg, who was in the team, said Enterprise Ireland is the government  organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in markets around the world.

    The organisation work in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales on global markets.

    The Trade Mission Representative in Nigeria,  Thessa Brongers Bagu while stressing that Arik Air is the airline of choice said Arik would be the official carrier to move the trade mission between Accra, Abuja and Lagos.

    Chairman, Arik Air, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide, who led the management team of the airline to receive the visitors, said the carrier would be interested in flying the Lagos-Dublin route if there is enough traffic between the two countries.

  • ‘Arik Air ‘ll collaborate with police’

    ‘Arik Air ‘ll collaborate with police’

    The Managing Director of Arik Air, Chris Ndulue, has pledged to work with the new Commissioner of Police, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to improve security in its operations.

    Ndulue made this known last week  when the Airport Police Command Commissioner, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, paid a courtesy visit to the airline’s headquarters in Lagos.

    He urged the police to sustain and improve security at the airport to prevent unwanted persons at the restricted areas and those who sneak into the airport and enter the wheel-well of aircraft as stowaways.

    Ndulue also noted that police should have access to every part of the airport and should not be prevented from working at the restricted areas, remarking that in other parts of the world, police have unfettered access to all parts of the airport in order to effectively maintain peace and ensure the protection of passengers and other airport users.

    He said that Arik Air  has well-trained aviation security personnel which would always collaborate with the Nigeria police for maximum protection and prevention of any kind of crises.

  • Arik Air introduces summer timings on Lagos-Jo’burg route

    Arik Air introduces summer timings on Lagos-Jo’burg route

    Arik Air  has introduced new summer timings on the Lagos- Johannesburg route,  its spokesman,  Mr Ola Banji said yesterday.

    He said  baggage allowance on the route has been increased for both Premier and Economy Class passengers.

    With the new timings which came into effect on June 15 this year,  outbound daily flights now depart the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and arrive into the OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. Inbound flights will leave Johannesburg and arrive into Lagos at  next day.

    He said new baggage allowance, Premier and Economy class passengers from Lagos to Johannesburg can  now carry three pieces of luggage each with Premier passengers allowed a maximum weight of 32kg per piece and Economy passengers 23kg per piece.

  • Arik Air among global best in economy class

    Arik Air among global best in economy class

    Arik Air has ranked as one of the top 10 airlines in the world to offer most comfortable economy class seat.

    According to a report by www.airlinequality.com, Arik Air is among 10 airlines in the world that offers the most comfortable seats in Economy Class on its wide-body aircraft for medium and long haul flights.

    The report noted that whereas the majority of airlines around the world offer 31 to 32 inches with some offering even as low as 29 to 30 inches, Arik Air is one of the “elite few that still provide a comfortable 34 ins seat pitch where travelers will enjoy greatest comfort”

    Other Airlines rated in this category include: Qatar Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Thai Airways, Asiana Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Air China, Garuda Indonesia, and Korean Air.

  • Arik Air loses $9m to scarcity of aviation fuel

    Arik Air loses $9m to scarcity of aviation fuel

    The scarcity of aviation fuel is taking a huge toll on airline operations with Arik Air declaring yesterday that it had lost an estimated $ 9 million since last week to the disruption of its  operations.

    The airline said the scarcity of aviation fuel adversely hit its operations and it was forced to scale down its flights to 20 per cent capacity out of over 100 flights daily.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the Arik Air headquarters,  its Managing Director, Mr Chris Ndulue, said it had put a series of contingency plans in place to ensure it does not shut down its operations because of the scarcity of aviation fuel.

    He said the airline now flies to neighbouring countries in West and Central Africa to source aviation fuel at a ridiculously high rate to sustain its operations .

    He said Arik Air now flies to Ghana, Cameroon and Benin Republic to source fuel.

    He said if the fuel situation does not improve, the airline may not operate flights, as the alternative arrangement is costing the airline much money with the attendant inconveniences to passengers.

    Ndulue said since last Thursday when the scarcity of aviation fuel became serious, Arik Air had struggled to secure  over 800,000 litres needed for its daily operations.

    He said: “For over one week now, aviation fuel scarcity has impacted negatively on our flight operations. It has become very bad that we have to scale down our flights gradually. In the last one week, it has become  increasingly difficult to sustain our operations, owing largely to  the scarcity of aviation fuel.

    “Getting fuel to fly to our international destinations has become extremely expensive because we have to source fuel from Kano, Cotonou, Cameroon and Accra to sustain our operations.

    “If the situation does not improve in the coming days, we may not return to normal flight operations.

    “We appeal to passengers for their understanding on account of the inconveniences they are going through arising from the flight disruptions.”

    He said the inadequate supply of aviation fuel to Arik Air was not out of indebtedness to fuel marketers, saying “that the airline makes credit arrangement with its suppliers.”

    He said: “Since last Thursday only one fuel marketer has been consistent with the supply of the product. As an airline, we have thrown contingency plans around and the marketers are cooperating  because of the good relationship.”

    Meanwhile, passengers remain stranded at airports across the country as airlines are unable to get fuel to fly their aircraft.

  • Arik loses $9m to aviation fuel scarcity

    Arik loses $9m to aviation fuel scarcity

    The scarcity of aviation fuel has taken a huge toll on airline operations with Arik Air declaring on Friday that it has lost an estimated $9million since last week due to disruptions in its operations.

    Addressing reporters at its headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, the airline Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue, said the management has put contingency plans in place to ensure the company does not shut down its operations because of the situation.

    Ndulue said the airline now flies to neighbouring countries in West and Central Africa to source for aviation fuel at a ridiculously high rate to sustain its operations.

    He said Arik Air now flies to Ghana, Cameroon and Benin Republic to source for aviation fuel.

    According to him, if the fuel situation does not improve the airline may not operate flights, as the alternate arrangement is costing the airline much money with the attendant inconveniences to passengers.

    He said, “For over one week now, aviation fuel scarcity has impacted negatively on our flight operations. It has become very bad that we have to scale down our flights gradually. In the last one week it has become increasingly difficult to sustain our operations owing largely to scarcity of aviation fuel.

    “Getting fuel to fly to our international destinations has become extremely expensive, because we have to source fuel from Kano, Cotonou , Cameroon and Accra to sustain our operations .

    “Because of the huge quantity of fuel averaging about 800,000 litres needed daily for our wide body aircraft, it is becoming very difficult to operate effectively.

    “If the situation does not improve in the coming days, we may not return to normal flight operations.”

     

  • Arik Air pays N4 billion to Fed Govt

    Arik Air pays N4 billion to Fed Govt

    Arik Air paid over N4 billion to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria  (FAAN ), for landing , parking fees, rent, passenger service charge (PSC), and fuel surcharge last year.

    The payments, it was gathered  were made for the months of January, February, March ,  April, June , July,   September and December last year.

    The N4 billion investigations, further revealed, is contrary to claims by sources close to FAAN, which claimed that the carrier has not been paying its bills since it began operations eight years ago.

    Investigations reveal that Arik Air in January last year paid N335,562,212.50;  N318,575,022.50 in February  and N327,359,180 in March.

    In April, it  paid N370,417,622.50  while in June same year , it  paid N349,471,655. In July, the airline paid N315,530,737.50.

    In September and December , it paid N344,486,305 and  N477,232,605.50 respectively to the Federal government.

    “ The total amount paid to FAAN in 2014 was N3,941,023,995. This is contrary to claims that the airline has not been paying its bills,”a source close to the carrier said on condition of anonymity.

    FAAN according to investigations said the airline owes about N287,834,450.47 and $8,192.00 for its Abuja operations .

    FAAN, in a letter endorsed by its Regional Manager, Abuja Airport Engineer O.O Osituyo to the Arik Arik Station Manager, Abuja put the debt accruing on the electronic platform hitherto operated by Maevis Limited at N470,338,773,68 and $1,748.90 respectively.

    FAAN said the debts covered landing and parking fees, passenger service charge , rent , service recovery charge  for operations at Abuja Airport.

    Last week, officials of FAAN disrupted Arik Air’s operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Hundreds of passengers were affected by the disrupted operations.

    The officials denied the airline’s staff access to their duty post making it impossible to process passengers for departures out of Abuja.

    Worried over the development, the Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka  stepped into the matter by ordering a reconciliation of the lingering debts between FAAN and Arik Air

    According to Arik Air spokesman, Mr Ola Adebanji  the airline has described the debt by the agency as fictitious and malicious.

    Arik Air insists that it does not owe FAAN any money since the agency’s charges are paid in advance (pay-as-you-go basis).

    “This has been the practice for over two years when all the aviation agencies introduced pay-as-you-go for their services. The bogus debt claim by FAAN is therefore unacceptable to Arik Air”, he said

     

  • FAAN disrupts Arik Air flight operations

    FAAN disrupts Arik Air flight operations

    Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Thursday disrupted Arik Air’s operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Hundreds of passengers were affected by the disrupted operations   forcing them to request refund to fly other airlines.

    The disruption lasted several hours forcing the airline to lose millions of Naira.

    The officials denied the airline’s staff access to their duty post making it impossible to process passengers for departure out of Abuja.

    Worried over the development, the minister of aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka has stepped into the matter by ordering a reconciliation of the lingering debts between FAAN and Arik Air.

    The latest action by FAAN, it was learnt may not be unconnected with allegation of debt FAAN claimed Arik Air owes.

    According to the spokesman of Arik Air, Mr Ola Adebanji   the airline has described the debt by the agency as fictitious and malicious.

    The airline, insists that it does not owe FAAN any money since the agency’s charges are paid in advance (pay-as-you-go basis).

    This has been the practice for over two years when all the aviation agencies introduced pay-as-you-go for their services. The bogus debt claim by FAAN is therefore unacceptable to Arik Air.

    But, sources close to FAAN say the airline owes over N1.6 billion for services rendered.

    Chidoka had earlier stepped into the lingering debt issue between FAAN and Arik Air and had directed that a firm of auditors be engaged to reconcile the books. This process has not been concluded before the latest action by FAAN Thursday morning.

    The Arik Air spokesman said: “Since about 10:50 am when the Minister of Aviation directed the FAAN Managing Director, Engineer Saleh Dumoma to allow Arik Air access into the terminal, FAAN is yet to heed the directive.

    “Arik Air sincerely apologise for the inconveniences the FAAN action may have caused its esteemed guests. The safety and comfort of passengers remain the bedrock of the airline’s operations. The management of Arik Air is taking steps to guide against this kind of action in the future.”

    A source close to FAAN who pleaded anonymity claimed that the airline owes the authority and other service providers including fuel marketers, airspace agency, caterers and other suppliers.
    The source said: “The airline has been reluctant in paying landing charges in Lagos since it started operations about eight years ago.

    “The airline has been arguing that it is not supposed to be paying parking landing fees at its home base.

    “The airline has not been paying passengers service charges until FAAN forced them to be paying when the Pay as you go started a few years ago,” he said.

  • Police evacuate remains of suspected stowaway

    Police evacuate remains of suspected stowaway

    The Police yesterday evacuated the remains of a suspected stowaway discovered in the undercarriage compartment of an Arik Air aircraft Airbus A 345 Registration CS-TFX at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The corpse, whose identity was yet to be ascertained, had been deposited at an undisclosed mortuary following due diligence by the relevant aviation and security agencies.

    Arik Air confirmed the incident.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Adebanji Ola, the airline said: “‘A stowaway was today discovered on an Arik Air plane at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    “Arik Air engineers were checking the aircraft in preparation for a flight when the body of the stowaway was discovered in the main wheel well of the aircraft.

    “Investigations are still on to determine where the stowaway originated.

    The aircraft has been fumigated by the Port Health authorities while the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) officials are carrying out their investigation.”

    It was learnt that Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) was reviewing footages of the CCTV system and airside security operations with a view to identifying the gaps and personnel failure, if any, to take remedial actions.

    The Authority had intensified efforts at improving security and safety at both land and airside through the installation of high tech screening machines, CCTV surveillance cameras and patrol teams.

    Some weeks ago, a teenage suspected stowaway, Samuel Ogundeyi, was arrested after he was found in the wheel well compartment of an aircraft operated by Tag Aviation.

    It was gathered the aircraft Ogundeyi was found in was parked in the Execujet hangar at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Lagos.

    He was discovered at about 12 noon by the pilots of the aircraft with registration number M-MYNA while carrying out a routine inspection before starting the engine.

    The teenager confessed he gained access into the hangar through the facility of the Headquarters, Air Defence Corp of Nigerian Air Force located very close to the Presidential Lounge at night with the assistance of a collaborator, he described as a brother.

  • Arik Air to develop Cotonou Airport as regional hub

    Arik Air plans to develop the Cotonou International Airport into a regional hub to feed its passenger traffic for West Africa, its Deputy Managing Director, Captain Ado Sanusi, has said.

    Sanusi said the Cotonou Airport is considered as a hub by Arik Air because Lome Airport is being developed by another airline.

    Sanusi, Arik Air Senior Vice President, Operations, told The Nation that the airline has carried out feasibility studies on the viability of the Cotonou Airport. The airline is also extending its  operations into Abidjan to offer passengers reliable air-link between Anglophone and Francophone countries.

    His words: “We have done a good study on the route and found out that there is a good market between Lagos and Abidjan. We also discovered that there is the potentiality of transit passengers that will be going to our long haul destinations via Lagos.

    “This also will make Lagos the natural hub we are trying to build. Passengers going to Dubai, London, or JFK can come to Lagos via Abidjan. We have seen it coming and we are going to capitalise on it.

    “We are not flying through Lome Airport  for strategic reasons. Besides, we want to build Cotonou as another hub because Lome is being developed by one of our competitors and so we want to do the same thing with Cotonou.

    “Abidjan is a preferred destination for Nigerian businessmen and women. Arik Air’s foray into this commercial city will make life a lot easier for our guests who have been yearning for flight connection between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire. This service will further underline Arik Air’s position as West Africa’s premier airline,” he stated, adding that the reason for opening the route is because of the economic potentials citizens of the two countries stand to gain through the air link.

    Also, Nigerian Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire Mrs. Ifeoma Akabogu-Chinwuba said at the Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport, that the service provided by Arik Air would  boost the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire in many ways, including trade and business transactions.

    Her words: “There are so many benefits the two countries can gain by this direct air link by Arik Air. For instance, there are over three million Nigerians living in Cote d’Ivoire and they all have families. There are indeed a lot of bilateral activities between the two countries, particularly, economic and commercial activities, mainly from Nigeria to Cote d’Ivoire.

    “Many Nigerians have made so much investment in Cote d’Ivoire. They have hotels, schools and banks such as UBA, GTB and Diamond. All are Nigerian-established banks. We also have churches owned by Nigerians, as well as oil and gas companies belonging to Nigerians,” she said.

    Mrs. Akabogu-Chinwuba praised Arik Air for providing direct service to millions of Nigerians in Cote d’Ivoire who have been itching for such opportunity to transact their businesses using an airline belonging to Nigeria.