Arik Air to resume operations today after grounding its fleet over insurance problems

NIGERIA'S largest airline Arik Air has announced that it will resume full operations today after grounding its fleet for the last 24 hours following the withdrawal of its insurance certificate by insurers.

 

Like many of Nigeria's airlines, Arik has been hit hard by the economic challenges Nigeria is currently facing, mainly due to the scarcity of foreign exchange. Primarily because of the scarcity of US dollars, Arik has been unable to meet many of its financial obligations and as a result, its insurers and aviation fuel suppliers suspended their services to the airline.

 

This resulted in Arik cancelling all its services yesterday, with its busy London to Lagos flight particularly hit hard. Many people who booked flights to travel to Nigeria yesterday with the airline were left stranded at London's Heathrow Airport but now the airline is promising to recommence operations today.

 

Arik spokesman Adebanji Ola, said: “We have resolved the issues relating to the insurance and our flights have resumed but. Two flights are already leaving to Port Harcourt and Abuja this evening and we sincerely apologise to our clients.”

 

Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, Arik's chief executive, added: “Where flights have been cancelled, the airline will notify passengers through SMS and in such cases, passengers will be accommodated on first available alternative flight as soon as normal flight operations resume."

 

International regulations prohibit aircraft from flying without insurance and this affected Arik as it was unable to meet its financial obligations to its insurers. Arik is the third domestic operator to suspend operations since the effect of the nation’s economic downturn began to hit the aviation industry as two weeks ago, Aero Contractors and First Nation suspended all their operations citing difficulties in procuring foreign exchange.