ABUJA FEBRUARY 15, 2017 – Following the take-over of the management of Arik Air by the Federal Government, the Senate has summoned the management of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON.
This came as the airline’s new management announced suspension of flights to London and South Africa to focus on domestic and West African operations.
In a notice signed by the Clerk, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, N.P. Ikeokwu and pasted on the Senate Press Corps Notice Board, the management of AMCON would appear today to deliberate with the senators on the take over of the airline.
The Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions is chaired by Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, APC, Kwara South.
The notice read: “The Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions is meeting with the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON.Room 324 to deliberate on the takeover of the Arik Airline by the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
The Federal Government took over Arik Air to prevent it from going bust last week.
AMCON spokesman Jude Nwauzor, had said: “AMCON has taken over the management of Arik because the whole place is in a mess.
“We have appointed a new management to stabilise the airline and prevent it from going down.”
Meanwhile, Arik Air yesterday said it was suspending international flight operations to London and South Africa to focus on domestic and West African routes.
This decision, according to the new management, will enable the airline engage and discuss with creditors who have become restive since the intervention of AMCON.
Arik said in a statement: “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.”
“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.”
“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 international route is very critical for the strategic turn around, growth strategy and stability of the airline. Therefore we intend to revisit the routes immediately we address all the problems inherited, which is 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.”
Arik Air started the London route operations in 2006 and later added the South Africa route.
