…As Arik Air Lists Contributing Factors to Flight Delays
Passengers were stranded at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2(MMA2) following the delay and cancellation of flights by domestic airline operators occasioned by the scarcity of aviation fuel also known as JET A1.
Recalled that the scarcity of the product has been lingering for some weeks now, a situation that made it impossible for local airline operators to operate flights without delays and cancellations
A source close to the major oil marketers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Abelnews.com that what is happening in the aviation sector is not that the fuel is scarce but the major oil markets have refused to sell aviation fuel to airline operators because they owe the marketers millions of naira.
The online medium also learnt that the oil marketers have been complaining bitterly about the attitude of domestic airline operators towards paying the debt owed oil marketers and that as a result the marketers have resolved to only sell aviation fuel to airlines that are ready with their cash in hand.
It was further gathered that a particular airline would owe marketer A and instead of settling its debt with A, it would move over to marketer B.
The platform investigation revealed that because of this antics ,the oil marketers have resolved not to sell JET A1 to airlines indebted to them but to airlines with cash in hand and those that are credit worthy.
However, passengers who intended to travel from Lagos to other local destinations either had their flight delayed or cancelled and rescheduled for another day.
When Abelnews.com visited the MMA2 at about 1.30 pm passengers were seen standing and lamenting over the delay and cancellation of flights.
Also, the departure hall at about 1pm, which usually records not so heavy traffic, was filled with intending passengers trying to purchase tickets and departing passengers, who have bought their tickets waiting to be checked-in by airline officials.
Abelnews.com correspondent observed for example from the flight information Display that Dana Air flights to Uyo and Abuja from Lagos were delayed.
At Aero’s ticket counters, the leading operator at MMA2, passengers were seen in a long queue buying tickets while others were seen hanging around the airline’s ticket counters.
At First Nation counters, passengers were also seen with their luggage standing in front of the counters while the airline officials, who were usually busy on Monday morning and afternoon watches on.
Other airlines whose flights were affected by the alleged scarcity of aviation fuel Peace Airline, Dana, Arik Air and Azman
Though some passengers had to move to the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) to buy their tickets from Arik Air but not without additional cost, as the airline’s tickets is one of the costliest on the domestic scene.
Meanwhile, Arik Air has alerted passengers over aviation fuel scarcity
The airline alerted the passengers in an online statement signed by the Public Relations and Communications Manager, Mr Adebanji Ola
Adebanji stated that the scarcity which had been on and off in the past few weeks has reached an alarming proportion as oil marketers are finding it difficult to cope with the requirements of the airline.
He further stated that the scarcity was more pronounced in Lagos and Abuja hubs where a number of flights had to be delayed while awaiting supply of fuel and some are cancelled due to untimely delivery by the marketers.
According to him, “Some of the contributing factors to flight delays include for instance, inadequate and unserviceable bowsers as well as trucking distance to go back and forth between the depots and airport. Due to the inability of oil marketers to meet our daily fuel requirements because of the number of local, regional and international flights we operate, our operations are most impacted and passengers inconvenienced”.
He appealed to the passengers for understanding as all stakeholders continue to find a lasting solution to the problem.
