Airline passengers in Nigeria especially those that patronize Arik Air have praised the On-Time-Performance (OTP) of Arik since the intervention of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). Recall that following a huge debt profile of Arik to AMCON and other creditors around the globe, AMCON took over the management of the airline in February, a strategic development that saved the collapse of yet another Nigerian airline as well as thousands of jobs that would have been lost in the process. A good number of passengers who spoke to us at the terminal of Arik at the local wing of the airport in Ikeja said it was refreshing to see that all the delays and flight cancellations, which Arik was known for before AMCON came have all regularized to the extent that Arik is now occupies number one spot when it comes to keeping to flight time schedule.
Arik Air, which remains the biggest local carrier in the country, had experienced huge challenges arising from all manners of business irregularities that led to near collapse before the federal government ordered AMCON to intervene to avoid major catastrophe in the aviation sector after series of operational encumbrances bordering on flights delays, cancellations, bad corporate governance, accumulating staff salaries among other ills. Interestingly, Arik Air flights now depart on schedule without delay. For instance flights scheduled for say 10:00 a.m calls for boarding at 9:27 or 9.28 and completed boarding at about 9:50. The flights will then take off at about 10:05 a.m., which is quite remarkable judging by the behavior of the airline before the arrival of AMCON.
One of the passengers said, “Whatever magic that AMCON did at the place is commendable. Initially when AMCON intervened, some of us were skeptical but truth must be told, they (AMCON) has done really well with their involvement in Arik because things have really improved at Arik. Aside from that, they have also done excellently well with their involvement in Aero Contractors and one can only comment the management of AMCON for all these achievements. It means that there is hope for aviation in the country. I think other operators should understudy whatever model AMCON used to revive the two very important airlines because without them this two critical airlines would have become history like many others before them.”
