The management of Arik Air has sacked 300 members of staff of the airline according to a statement issued by its spokesperson Mr Adebanji Ola on Friday in Lagos. The statement blamed the sacking on the impact of the dreaded coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which destroyed businesses across the globe.
It would be recalled that the aviation sector was one of the worst hit sectors in most countries especially when countries across the world shut down their airspaces thus forcing some of the biggest airlines in the world to sack thousand of staff including pilots over reduced income and staff redundancy.
In a press statement was titled, “Arik Air management declares 300 staff redundant,” and made available to wwwinewsbitsng.com newsroom, Ola said, “Arising from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the constrained ability of the airline to complete heavy maintenance activities and return its planes to operations, stunted revenues against increasing operational costs, the management of Arik Air (In Receivership) has declared 300 staff members redundant to its current level of operations.
“The leadership of the impacted unions have been contacted to negotiate a redundancy package for the affected staff. It is important to note that over 50% of Arik Air’s workforce of over 1,600 staff have been on furlough in the past six months on a base allowance. Decisions to let go off staff is naturally a difficult decision. Arik Air wishes the impacted staff well in their future endeavours,” the stamen concluded.
It would be recalled that Arik is in receivership under the auspices of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) following its intervention in the airline some few years back when the airline almost died as a result of the huge dept of over N300billion. AMCON takeover of the airline ensured stability of the airline and the restoration of corporate governance structure at the place.
