Arik Air back in the air

Arik Air will resume normal flights  Wednesday morning, 24 hours after it suspended operations over problems with insurance.

In a statement on its website,  Arik Air, Nigeria’s  biggest airline, said it will resume flights at 11 am on Wednesday, having resolved its insurance issues.

The company also said that it is in the process of changing its ‘airline Liability Insurance providers’.

“Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest airline, is pleased to announce that scheduled flights will resume from 11 am tomorrow, Wednesday September 14, 2016.

“Members of the public and our customers are advised to discountenance the disparaging allegations, unsubstantiated and uninformed claims about the airline’s inability to meet its financial obligations to aviation fuel marketers and a purported withdrawal of insurance services to Arik Air by its insurers.

“While the current scarcity of aviation fuel (JET A1) has impacted on the operations of airlines in the country, Arik Air is in good standing with its fuel suppliers and have been meeting its obligations to them and to our insurers.

“With the regularisation of the required documents relating to the renewal of the insurance, Arik Air will be resuming its normal flying schedule from 1100 hours on Wednesday, September 14, 2016.

“Arik Air regrets the unfortunate inconvenience caused to its customers and reassures our customers of expedient rebooking of their flights.”

The airline had created panic in the aviation sector on Tuesday after it announced the suspension of flights.

The action held prospects of shrinking flight options for travellers, especially as two other domestic airlines have grounded operations.

Aero Contractors, Nigeria’s second biggest domestic operator, saddled by huge debts announced late August  it was suspending operations indefinitely from 1 September and asked staff to go home.

“The impact of the external environment has been very harsh on our operational performance, hence management decision to suspend scheduled services operations indefinitely effective September 1, 2016, pending when the external opportunities and a robust sustainable and viable plan is in place for Aero Contractors to recommence its scheduled services.

“The implication of the suspension of scheduled services operations extends to all staffs directly and indirectly involved in providing services as they are effectively to proceed on indefinite leave of absence during the period of non-services.”, the airline said.

First Nation followed, but promised to resume operations on 15 September.