Arik back on Maiduguri route

… As AMCON injects N1.5bn to stabilise operations
Arik Air has announced resumption of flight operations to Maiduguri, Borno State via Abuja from Tuesday, May 9, 2017.

Announcing the resumption in a press statement in Lagos, Arik Air said flights to Maiduguri will operate thrice weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with the possibility of increasing the frequency in the coming weeks.

Though the flight will operate via Abuja, passengers from other Arik Air network can conveniently connect to Abuja for their onward journey to Maiduguri. Passengers can book on line at www.arikair.com for affordable fares or visit any Arik Air City/Airport Ticket Office for reservations.

Arik Air suspended operations to Maiduguri in December 2013 due to security reasons. The security situation in the region has since improved, necessitating the resumption of flight operations to Maiduguri International Airport.

Speaking on the recommencement of flights to Maiduguri, Arik Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Captain Roy Ilegbodu said: “As a major carrier in Nigeria, we owe it a duty to serve the interest of our esteemed customers who have been yearning for our return to Maiduguri. We once again pledge our commitment to high safety standards, on-time departure and quality customer service as we return to this route”.

In a related development, the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) has injected N1.5 billion in Airk Airline Ltd to safeguard its operations since its takeover.

Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, Arik Air Chief Executive Officer, said this at a news conference in Lagos while highlighting the company’s operations since its takeover by AMCON.

Ilegbodu said that the funds injected by AMCON helped in the stabilisation of the airline’s operations, prevention of its collapse and payment of staff salaries.

He said the funds were injected into the company in the first couple of weeks the new management took over the airline.

Ilegbodu said that the management met a lot of refund when it took over the company, noting that it paid between N60 million and N75 million to customers as a refund on a weekly basis.

He said that the company had remained in business due to AMCON‘s support, adding that the support helped in sustaining the airline operations in spite of huge debts incurred before the Federal Government takeover.

He said that AMCON’s intervention in the airline was timely because the things on grounds showed that the company would have collapsed in the next couple of weeks or months.

Recallthat AMCON, on Feb. 9, took over Arik over a N135 billion debt and appointed a new management team led by Ilegbodu.