Arik Air Wins Airline Of The Decade Award
The publisher of Atqnews and Travellers Magazine, Ambassador Ikechi Uko was at the Arik Air head office in Ikeja Lagos on Wednesday to personally deliver an invitation for the annual Abuja Jabamah Travel Event to the CEO of Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu.
The 2020 Travellers award will hold on the 27th of March in Abuja during Abuja Jabamah Atqnews/Travellers have chosen Arik Air as the Nigerian Airline of the decade 2010 to 2020.
Justifying the choice of Arik as the Airline of the decade, Ikechi Uko said the airline has demystified the myth that no Nigerian Airline with 10 Aircraft last beyond 10 Years
He further said that it is hoped that Arik recovers and grows back to be the pride of Nigeria that it used to be. According to Mr Ikechi, Arik is still a global Brand from Nigeria.
Mr Ikechi Uko, in a Facebook post, narrate Arik air story. He talked about the challenges and how far they have come in the travel industry.
Today I was at the Arik Head Office in Ikeja to Deliver an Invitation for Abuja Jabamah Personally to the CEO of Arik. Capt. Roy Ilegbodu. The Award Ceremony will hold on the 27th of March in Abuja during Abuja Jabamah.
Arik was Once the Biggest Airline in West Africa with 30 Aircraft in its fleet. Today it has about 23 on the Fleet but effectively Flying 6 Aircraft. Since AMCON took Over the Airline in 2017 many of the Aircraft have been returned to the Owners or has been repossessed through Court Orders.
4 planes were returned to Air France. 2 Classic Airplanes abandoned in Europe were Reposed by a European Supplier. Out of the 2 A340, one is Parked at the Airport in Lagos while the other is in Storage in France. 3 Aircraft were Recovered by the Canadian Export Development Bank. A B737-800 went for C-check in Lithuania and there is an attempt by Lufthansa to seize it. Another B737-800 is abandoned in South Africa. So many Creditors are trying to Seize as Many of the Assets as they Could lay their hands on.
Despite all these Troubles, Arik is still the Biggest Airline Brand out of Nigeria. Even with the Shrunk Fleet, it is still one of the Biggest Airlines in West Africa.
It has 3 Q400 Aircraft,2 CRJ-900 One B737-700 and Another B737-700 expected back from Checks Soon.
Before AMCON took over Arik it was Indebted to a lot of Firms. They are all trying to seize one asset or Another. So Far the Managers have managed the Situation well.
Arik is in Receivership and inherited 2500 Staff but now has 1600 on Payroll. 900 of those are at Home because of the Covid19 Lockdown fallout. Some are getting Called back as soon as more activities are added. They are paid some allowances while at Home. The Airline has so far Proved Resilient. It has also demystified the Myth that no Nigerian Airline with 10 Aircraft last Beyond 10 Years.
It is hoped that Arik Recovers and Grow back to be the Pride of Nigeria that it Used to be.
Arik Remains a Pride of Nigeria. Kudos Goes to the Founders and the Workers who helped build the Brand.
In his response, Captain Roy Ilegbodu thanked the organisers for the honour and promised that Arik Air will attend the awards in Abuja. He commended the organisers for their consistency in promoting Travel and Tourism in Nigeria.