* Pix Source: The Lens
…To Make Refund To Affected International Passengers Affected
Barely six days after Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) took over the operations of the debt had ridden Arik Air, the airline today said that it has suspended flights operations to London and Johannesburg.
This was made known to journalists in an online statement signed by the new management of the airline this evening.
Recalled that Arik Air is one of the airlines operating flights into London and Johannesburg, the other is Medview Airline, which operates to Gatwick but does not operate to Johannesburg.
Arik Air, which is indebted to the tune of N300 billion commenced flight operations to London in November, 2008 and had before the intervention by AMCON , suspended flight to New York before its operation was taken over by AMCON.
Announcing the suspension, the airline said, “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 facing our passengers as it will enable us to carry out a thorough assessment of the situation.”
It continued, “The strategic business decision is meant to realign our operations and refocus on satisfying our domestic and West Africa and other international passengers. It will also present Arik with 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 debt and non-performance on services and contracts.”
The airline explained that consequent upon this, arrangements are being made to refund all international passengers of the airline that are affected by this decision.
“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 statement reads in part.
The airline stated that the international route are very critical for the strategic turn around, growth strategy and stability of the airline, adding that the management intend to revisit the routes immediately it address all the problems inherited, which is affecting and creating more dissatisfied passenger base.
According to the management, “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.”
