The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Arik

  • Arik Air rolls out online check-in

    Arik Air rolls out online check-in

    Arik Air has introduced a new online check-in service to further boost its passenger experience.

    The service is aimed at customers who want a streamlined travel experience by reducing queuing times at the airport, especially for those travelling without check-in baggage.

    The new service, according to managing director of Arik Air, Mr  Chris Ndulue  is designed to provide customers with the ability to check-in from 24 hours to three hours before their flights, select their seats and print a boarding pass.

     Ndulue in a statement, said passengers with baggage to check-in can still check-in online and proceed to the check-in counters at the airport for baggage drop and standard security checks.

    The service has been introduced in Arik Air’s international locations- Johannesburg, London and New York-  as well as the key domestic locations of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt,  with full network coverage of domestic and regional locations to be progressively rolled out in the coming months.

  • Airlines warned on drug trafficking

    Airlines warned on drug trafficking

    … UK releases Arik crew member

    The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade has called on airlines to take all necessary steps to prevent drug trafficking in the country.

    Giade said this during an emergency meeting between airline managers and the agency’s leadership, held at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

    NAFDAC also disclosed that the United Kingdom authorities have released the Arik crew member that was allegedly found in possession of cigarettes.

    She is currently helping NDLEA officers in the ongoing investigation.

    However, the crew member reportedly found with 6kg of substance suspected to be cocaine is still being quizzed in London.

    Giade warned that any airline found wanting would be penalised. He pointed out that section 25 of the NDLEA Act outlined the responsibilities of airlines.

    “It shall be the duty of every commercial carrier to take reasonable precaution to ensure that its means of transport are not used in the commission of offences under this Act.

    “They are to comply with appropriate security measures at points of entry and exit in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other customs control areas, to prevent unauthorized cargo in its means of transportation,” he said.

    The NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, explained that such precautions as contained in the Act include training of personnel to identify suspicious consignment or persons, promotion of integrity of their personnel and submission of cargo manifests in advance.

     

  • Arik, Emirate Touch Aviation Services sign lease agreement

    Arik, Emirate Touch Aviation Services sign lease agreement

    Arik Air and Emirate Touch Aviation Services Limited have signed a lease agreement for the airlines’ two Boeing 737-300 aircraft.

    The Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) agreement was signed in Lagos last week by the Chairman of Arik Air, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide and Director-General, Emirate Touch Aviation Services, Prince Isa Bayero.

    Under the terms of the agreement, Arik Air is leasing its two B737-300 aircraft (5N-MJA and 5N-MJB) to Emirate Aviation Services for cargo operations.

    Sir Arumemi-Ikhide said the event was significant because it marked the first time the airline was going into such an agreement with a Nigerian company. “We are pleased with this lease agreement. As a world class airline. Our mission is to build alliances and partnerships and increase capacity in the industry.”

    Prince Bayero said he was elated to partner with the leading indigenous carrier in Nigeria and hoped this would help increase capacity in the industry as envisioned by the founders of Arik Air.

    “This is a landmark agreement that will stimulate the growth of cargo operations in Nigeria and points beyond,” Prince Bayero said.

  • Arik offers Valentine low fares

    Arik Air is extending love to its valued guests this Valentine season, with the introduction of new attractive fares for economy and business class travel across all its domestic, regional and international routes.

    According to a statement, passengers booking these flights will enjoy super savings over previously published fares on the applicable routes as part of the airline’s ‘With Love from Arik Air’ special fare campaign to celebrate the Valentine season. Customers can enjoy even greater savings when booking seven days or more in advance,through the airline’s website www.arikair.com. In addition, customers will enjoy a 30 per cent discount on the cost of the return leg fare of their journey when they book return domestic flights.

    The ‘With Love from Arik Air’ online fares follow on the back of the introduction of the ‘Book-on-Hold’ service last month, which allows passengers to book tickets online through the airline’s website and pay later.This is part of a raft of changes being rolled out over the coming months to enhance the customer experience.

    Arik Air’s Global Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, said: “We have always been a value based airline, offering good value for money without compromising our safety and quality standards and ensuring a warm and exciting travel experience on board our aircraft. Our size, extensive network in Nigeria, combined with our superior product, gives us considerable leverage to offer such dynamic pricing.

    “This year we wanted to give something back to our customers and reward them for helping make us Nigeria’s leading airline. We believe this offer will give more of our guests greater flexibility of flights at very attractive prices across our entire network.”

     

  • Air Cote D’ Ivoire partners Arik Air

    Air Cote D’ Ivoire partners Arik Air

    Officials of Air Cote D ‘Ivoire, yesterday visited Arik Air to seek ways of exploring mutual partnership between the two carriers.

    Led by a senior official of the airline, Coulibaly Abdoulaye, the Air Cote D’Ivoire explained that the visit has afforded them the opportunity to learn how to run a service driven airline, as well as resolve the problem of intra-Africa connections.

    He said the deal would equip the carrier with the strategy of achieving how to build a hub for the southern part of Central Africa, affirming that since the former regional carrier:Air Afrique collapsed, there had been no direct air link between Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

    He further explained that the best model for building stronger airlines in Africa is through partnership among carriers, insisting that the visit has afforded the officials the window to obtain first hand experience of running a service-oriented airline.

    He explained that after the visit, both Arik Air and Air Cote D‘ Ivoire would work out a template for mutual cooperation, which he said, was key to running a solid carrier.

    He said: “We are pleased with what we have seen today at the airlines premises, it is a positive surprise, we are pleased to meet an airline that is serious , well managed, cost effective as the basis for future business in Africa.”

    Also speaking, the Chairman, Arik Air, Sir Arumemi Ikhide, described the visit as fruitful, adding that the airline is a good model for other African carriers to emulate, even as he called on government to continue to support local operators.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Arik Air adds Kinshasa, DRC to route network

    Arik Air adds Kinshasa, DRC to route network

    Arik Air is expanding its regional African network with the addition of new flight services from Lagos, Nigeria to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    The first commercial flight on the route takes off on Wednesday December 5, 2012 and will subsequently operate twice weekly on Wednesday and Sunday.

    The announcement means Kinshasa has now become Arik Air’s third destination in Central Africa, following the inclusion of flights to Luanda, Angola in 2011 and Douala, Cameroon in August this year.

    The new Lagos-Kinshasa service will operate via Douala, Cameroon with outbound flights departing from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to arrive at Douala International Airport .

    Flights will then continue onto Kinshasa, departing from and arriving at N’djili International Airport, Kinshasa .

    The return flights will leave Kinshasa and arrive in Douala, and will thereafter leave Douala for Lagos.

    Kinshasa route will be served with a Boeing 737-700Next Generation aircraft. The 737-700 is a two class compartment and the configuration is 12 Business Class seats and 112 Economy Class. Business Class passengers will enjoy a 44” seat pitch with cradle style seats, while Economy Class passengers will have plenty of room on the flight with a generous seat pitch of 34”.

    Arik Air’s Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Mr. Chris Ndulue said of the new Lagos-Kinshasa service:

    “Kinshasa is our 12th African destination and this underscores the airline’s commitment to linking the African markets for proper integration of the continent. Kinshasa is the second largest city in sub-Saharan Africa and the third largest in the whole continent after Lagos and Cairo. Thus, it is strategically important to link Lagos with Kinshasa.

     

    “Arik Air is now firmly established as the largest airline in West and Central Africa as well as the fastest growing in Africa”.

     

  • Arik: NCAA assures on air safety

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority said on Friday that Nigerians should not entertain any fear about the security of flight operations in the country.

    The spokesman of the organisation, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, said in Abuja that the advice became necessary following an incident on Friday morning involving an Arik Air flight from Abuja to Lagos.

    He said the flight was aborted on the runway due to a technical fault, just before take–off at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Adurogboye gave assurance that the NCAA was on top of the situation.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria that the aircraft involved developed a fault as it was about to take-off from Abuja to Lagos.

    Adurogboye said it was the duty of NCAA to ensure that the passengers in the plane and other Nigerians “are taken to their destinations safely.’’

    “Our engineers are there on ground 24 hours to rectify any fault because safety is paramount to us.

    “Passengers are always in a hurry particularly in Nigeria; if a plane develops a fault, it must be certified alright before passengers can be allowed to continue on their journey.

    “Everywhere in the world, a plane has to be certified okay before it can be allowed to fly. Therefore, we urge passengers to always be patience when it is necessary,” he said.

    One of the passengers on board the Arik plane, who wants to remain anonymous, told NAN that the pilot noticed an electrical fault and taxi back to the terminal building.

    “The fault was supposedly fixed but we are still waiting for the NCAA to certify the plane okay to fly.

    “They said we may have to go to Lagos in another aircraft,’’ the passenger said.

    The Arik Airline Head of Communication, Mr. Ola Adebanji, told NAN that the company was trying to get in touch with its engineers in Abuja to know what exactly went wrong.

     

  • Bomb scare on Arik’s flight

    Bomb scare on Arik’s flight

    -Panic as Abuja-bound passenger shouts Allahu Akbar

    – His family claims he’s mentally unstable, says SSS

     

    There was panic aboard an Arik Air flight yesterday when a passenger suddenly sprang up from his seat, shouting: Allahu Akbar (God is great).

    Some other passengers overpowered Aminu Galadima, apparently believing that he was about to detonate a bomb.

    The passengers, supported by the crew, searched the man, after pinning him down to his seat. But nothing incriminating was found on him.

    The Abuja-bound afternoon flight from Maiduguri – hotbed of the Boko Haram insurgency – was barely 10 minutes into flight time when the incident occurred.

    Galadima was handed over to the State Security Services (SSS) operatives on landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.

    The incident sent tongues wagging across the nation.

    Aviation Minister Mrs Stella Oduah, in a statement by his Special Assistant Joe Obi explained what happened on board the aircraft.

    She said: “The rumour making the rounds of a bomb scare on an Arik Air flight from Maiduguri to Abuja is absolutely false.

    “In fact, it is a hoax as there is no iota of truth whatsoever in this wicked rumour.

    “A passenger, Aminu Galadima, an indigene of Minna, Niger State, boarded a Maiduguri – Abuja bound Arik Air aircraft with registration number 5N MJE after going through all mandatory security screening.

    “Nothing incriminating, no explosives or weapons whatsoever were found on him.

    “However, mid-air the passenger began to act strangely, loudly screaming ‘’God is Great”. Fellow passengers, alarmed by this behaviour, rushed to apprehend him. A thorough search by fellow passengers and crew members revealed nothing dangerous on him.

    “The pilot immediately radioed Air Traffic Control and airport security operatives.

    “The plane landed safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at exactly 1253 hrs and the suspect was handed over to the SSS at about 1445 hrs where he is currently being interrogated.

    “We wish to reassure the flying public of the continued focus of the Federal Ministry of Aviation on the safety and security of the nation’s airspace, while cautioning fellow Nigerians on the spreading of dangerous rumours.

    “These rumours do not help to make our airspace either safer or more secure.”

    The SSS which has started interrogating the suspect, also issued a statement.

    Its Deputy Director, Public Relations, Ms Marilyn Ogar, said: “On Friday, 19th October, 2012, wife of the SSG to the Borno State Government, Hajia Yachilla Jidda, travelled to Maiduguri in company of one Aminu S. Galadima, an interior decorator based in Abuja, to do some interior decoration work. On arrival in Maiduguri, he was lodged at Greenland hotel.

    “During the course of his stay, he exhibited unusual behaviour by smashing a window, and ended up with lacerations on his hands.

    “The SSG was contacted, and in collaboration with the Hotel management, subject was taken to Atal Hospital, also in Maiduguri, where he received treatment.

    “His family in Abuja was contacted and they gave confirmation that Galadima has been mentally unstable. In addition, his elder brother, who lives in the UK, was contacted and he requested that subject be returned to Abuja for medical attention.

    “On Sunday, 21st October, 2012, he was taken to the airport to be returned to Abuja, but missed the flight. However, the airport management was informed of his state of health, and they advised that whenever his return is scheduled, the management should be notified.

    “Unfortunately, when Galadima was taken to the airport on 23rd October for his return trip, the management of the airport was not informed, and 10 minutes into the flight, due to slight turbulence, his condition was triggered off.

    “Meanwhile, Galadima is in the custody of security forces. This clarification has become necessary to dispel the unfounded rumours concerning the flight.”

     

  • Arik resumes local flights today

    Arik resumes local flights today

    ARIK Air is due back in business today.

    Its planes have been off the sky since Thursday in the heat of a strike by workers unions in the aviation sector over alleged indebtedness to regulatory authorities.

    Arik is the nation’s biggest airline. The disruption of its operations in the last 72 hours by the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) left thousands of domestic travellers stranded across the country and threw the sector into confusion.

    The federal government waded into the dispute yesterday with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, giving the airline the green light to resume operations from today.

    In a statement at the end of a meeting between Arik , Aviation Minister Stella Oduah and Chairmen of the Aviation Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, Anyim said besides resolving all the issues, the two –hour meeting also agreed on a road map for smooth working operation among the warring parties.

    The meeting appealed to the two parties to cease all hostilities and apologised to all travellers for the inconveniencies the dispute may have caused them.

    He said:”We are pleased to announce that Arik Air can now resume operations.

    “All issues in contention were discussed and resolved. On behalf of the Ministry of Aviation and the Management of Arik Air, we apologise to all travellers for the inconveniencies this unfortunate misunderstanding may have caused them.”

    Shortly after the Abuja peace meeting, Arik Air declared that at no time did it allege that the aviation minister wanted five per cent equity in the carrier.

    The managing Director of the company, Mr.Chris Ndulue, told newsmen in Lagos that attributing any such allegation to Arik Air was frivolous.

    On the Abuja peace talks, he said: “In the next two weeks another meeting will be scheduled. That was why in the initial instance, we called for federal government’s intervention in the matter. We have received commitment from the agencies that we will continue to work together. It was a reconciliation meeting where all issues were resolved.”

    He described the Central Bank’s exclusion of some airlines from further bank loans until they clear outstanding ones as unhealthy for the business.

    He said the airline business is capital intensive and wondered how airlines could operate without loans.

    He explained that all the loans taken by Arik came from foreign banks and that Nigerian banks merely guaranteed such.

    The aviation minister is already considering going to court over the allegation that she demanded bribe from Arik.

    Her media assistant, Mr Joe Obi, dismissed the allegation as a fabrication, saying: “The five percent equity story is without any foundation whatsoever. It is absurd, malicious and ultimately laughable. “The Minister of Aviation could not have contemplated acquiring a stake in any airline.”

     

  • Minister threatens to sue Arik

    Minister threatens to sue Arik

     

    The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has threatened to institute a legal action against Arik Air, for leveling unfounded allegations against her.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, by the Special Assistant (media) to the minister, Mr. Joe Obi.

    It stated that a recent publication by the management of the airline was designed to embarrass the minister.

    It said that Arik Air was owing the ministry N85.4 billion and stressed that Oduah had no stake in the company.

    The release stated that the minister could not have contemplated acquiring a stake in any airline and cautioned that the time was ripe for Arik Air to change its business module to resolve its financial crisis.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Arik Air was prevented from operation since Thursday by labour unions of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria.