Arik Air Suspends Domestic Operations
First it was Air Nigeria, now Arik, who's next. I hope this is not a ploy to make way for Dana Air o.
Nigeria's
biggest airline & probably one of Africa's fastest growing airline,
Arik Air is in the news again, not because of some new air-crafts they
have just acquired or brought in, but because they have just announced a
total suspension of all domestic flights. According to the following
statement from the airline to passengers-
''Due to persistent hostility of the Ministry of Aviation, and FAAN
management, which has culminated in the use of FAAN staff to stop Arik
Air operations and lock in checked-in passengers in Lagos this morning,
Arik Air has no option than to suspend all domestic operations until
further notice. This issue bothers on personal interests and not payment
of bills; since FAAN has been collecting their charges in advance since
18 months now. Arik Air regrets the inconveniences this disruption by FAAN, would cause you. Thank you for your much-valued support.”
This
coming from Arik Air just a few weeks after Air Nigeria suspended all
operations till further notice is clearly sending out some bad vibes.
There is the particular unconfirmed gist on going about the Honorable
Minister for Aviation wanting 5% of shares in the Airline, a move said
to have been rejected by the Chairman/owner of the Airline. Further to
this unconfirmed gist, is also the gist that the Minister supposedly
forced Dana Air to allocate to her shares in the company, so that the
suspension placed on the airline in the aftermath of the terrible
air-crash of June 2012 could be lifted. As high sounding as these
allegations might be, we would want the Federal Government to properly
investigate the matter and deal appropriately with any culprit found
wanting.
We do not think it is nice, when one
of the only brands that Nigeria and Nigerians should be proud of, would
be hounded into submission, especially when the survival of many are
attached to it.
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