Arik Air Resumes Scheduled Flight Operations

West and Central Africa’s largest carrier, Arik Air, has resumed scheduled flight operations after a meeting called by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to address the airline and the aviation unions.

The airline is operating flights from both Lagos and Abuja the evening of Tuesday, December 20 while full scheduled operations will resume from the morning of Wednesday, December 21, a statement released after the meeting read.

The airline has put in place extra flights to various domestic destinations between Wednesday and Saturday, December 24 and has also upgraded aircraft on certain routes to a bigger capacity to cope with the backlog of passengers whose flights were affected by the unions’ disruptive action earlier on Tuesday, December 20.

The statement said additional capacity had been allocated throughout the week from both Lagos and Abuja to Enugu, Asaba, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Benin, Warri, Uyo , Yola and other states. It says the scheduled would also enable many of their customers to get to their destinations for the yuletide season.

“Passengers whose flights were affected by the disruption on Tuesday, 20 December, 2016 are advised to contact 01-2799999 or via email to callcenter@arikair.com for rebooking options,” the statement further read.

The operations of Arik Air was earlier grounded in Lagos following a protest by aviation unions.

The unions are under the auspices of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria, and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers.

The unions had on Monday threatened to shut down the operations of the airline nationwide as they directed their members to commence picketing Arik Air with effect from Tuesday.

They had vowed to continue the action until all their concerns were addressed.

They were demanding, among other things, the payment of their seven-month salary arrears, unionisation of Arik Air employees and recall of all their colleagues who were sacked because of their roles in the unions.