The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has scaled down Arik Air’s operations to less than 30 per cent.
When THISDAY visited the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, the operational base of the airline on Sunday by 11:30 am, all the check-in counters were empty, totally bereft of passengers, with Arik ground staff at their desks, waiting to attend to anyone willing to travel with the airline.
The airline, which at peak periods operates 120 flights a day, now operates about 15 flights daily with very low load factor, as passengers have continued to shun the airline.
THISDAY learnt that out of 28 operating aircraft in the airline’s fleet, only eight are now in operation, which include two Bombardier CRJ 900, one Bombardier Q400 and five Boeing 737. The Q400 is in a dedicated service with Chevron, so the airline has seven operating aircraft.
More to come…
