Arik Air has announced the resumption of domestic flights from Wednesday, July 8, 2020 following Federal Government’s decision to re-open Lagos and Abuja airports for flight operations. This was contained in a press release issued on July 5, 2020 by Mr Adebanji Ola the image maker of Arik.
The airline said it will be operate three daily flights from Lagos to Abuja in the first phase of the restart while Port Harcourt will be added to the schedule from Saturday, July 11, 2020 when the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa is reopened for business operations.
Ola said in the release that passengers are assured of their safety and well-being at every stage of their flight as the airline has put various measures in place in line with Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic health protocols as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as well as he Federal Government of Nigeria.
According to him, Arik passengers as a result of the new protocol have also been advised to arrive at the airport three hours before scheduled departure times so as to have ample time to undergo all security and health protocols before flight. Furthermore, all passengers are required to come properly kitted with their face masks, which has now been made compulsory in the country.
Captain Roy Ilegbodu, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are ready to fly our esteemed customers again. All preparations have been made to making flying in this extraordinary period in the world safe and pleasurable. Arik has worked actively with aviation agencies for an effective re-start of the industry and also ensure that agreed health measures are effectively implemented.”
It would be recalled that Arik Air suspended flight operations on March 27, 2020 following the escalation of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Although the pandemic is still very much around, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 chaired by Mr Boss Mustapha who also doubles as the Secretary to the State Government of the Federation said they have the understanding of President Buhari to gradually open the economy.
Arik is one of the airlines under a receivership team led by Mr Kamilu Omokide on behalf of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). The airline was taken over by AMCON over a huge debt burden at the start of 2017 because of the strategic position of the airline to the growth of the Nigerian economy. Since the intervention, the airline has gradually regained its pride of place among airlines in Nigeria as a result of fresh cash injection from the government agency.
