Just less than two days the new management of Arik Air has taken over and asked for N20bn lifeline to put the airline in full operational status, it has announced the suspension of its international flight operations to enable the carrier find permanent solutions to the problem of delays and cancellation of flights. Tuesday, the ailing airline announced the suspension of London and Johannesburg routes.
Defending the decision, Arik Air said it was aimed at realigning operations and refocusing on satisfying its domestic, West African and other international passengers.
A statement made available to Business Hilights Tuesday quoted the new management of Arika Air as saying that “This is to bring to the notice of our travelling public our intention to suspend our international flight operations to enable us find permanent solution (to the problem) facing our passengers as it will enable us to carry out a thorough assessment of the situation.
“It will also present Arik with an excellent opportunity to engage and discuss with creditors, who have become restive since the intervention, and have also understandably exhausted their patience due to non-payment of accumulated debts and non-performance on services and contracts.”
“To our international creditors, Arik is most grateful for your patience and understanding. We reassure them that all pending issues with the airline will be duly addressed as a matter of priority as we plan to engage them in this regard.
“The international route is very critical for the strategic turnaround, growth strategy and stability of the airline. Therefore, we intend to revisit the routes immediately we address all the problems inherited, which are affecting and creating more dissatisfied passenger base. We appeal to all passengers to kindly bear with us as the decision is to ensure that the airline adheres strictly to international aviation best practices.”
