- Arik Air Resumes Flight Operations
By Abiola Olawale
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced its decision to lift the suspension placed on the operations of Arik Air.
This was made known by the director of public affairs and consumer protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, in a press statement issued on Thursday.
In the statement, Achimugu revealed that the development was made possible with the intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo and the Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo.
He explained that Keyamo and Najomo were able to resolve the issue between Arik Air and Atlas Petroleum International Ltd
The Statement reads in part: “The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, and the DG of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, have successfully resolved the impasse between Arik Air and Atlas Petroleum,” he said.
“By this resolution, Arik Air will begin operations today.
“The priority of the Minister and the NCAA remains to ensure safe and secure air travel for all passengers.
“Arik Air passengers are currently checking in for scheduled flights.”
The New Diplomat reports that on July 30, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) announced its decision to ground some aircraft belonging to Arik Air following a federal high court order to that effect.
The agency said the court’s order was regarding a case of $2.5 million owed by Arik to Atlas Petroleum International Ltd.
Before this, Roy Ilegbodu, chief executive officer (CEO) of Arik Air (in receivership), had said the directive to ground the airline’s planes was without warning or consultation.
The decision affected the operations of Chevron as the company could not get flights to drilling sites in the Niger Delta the following day.
In a statement on August 2, the NCAA clarified that the grounding of Arik Air aircraft does not include a suspension of the airline’s overall operations.
Aviation unions further called on President Bola Tinubu to direct aviation agencies to lift the embargo on four Arik Air aircraft.
The union said the move has intensified frustration among passengers and exacerbated existing challenges in the country’s air travel sector.
