THREE leading labour unions in the aviation sector on Monday sent a Save our Souls message to the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu urging him to immediately intervene in the current crisis involving domestic carrier, Arik Air and its creditor in order to save over 2000 of its workforce and their dependants from anguish.
The trio of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) the decision to ground the operations of some aircraft in the fleet of the Airline has created anguish and severe frustration among Arik Air’s passengers, and has exacerbated the present air travel challenges in the country.
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) had on Tuesday, 30th July disclosed the grounding of the said planes in compliance with a supreme Court judgment over
over indebtedness between Arthur Eze and Sir Johnson Arumemi, founder of Arik Air Limited.
The document, signed by Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, NAAPE, Ocheme Aba, Principal Deputy General Secretary, NUATE and Frances Akinjole, General Secretary of ATSSSAN noted that “…we are shocked that Arik Air’s fleet of four (4) aircraft was grounded by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on Tuesday July 30, 2024 over the subject matter in the above referenced letter.”
“This action has created anguish and severe frustration among Arik Air’s passengers, and has exacerbated the present air travel challenges in our dear Country. Mr. President can imagine the state of mind of those who have made both short and long term bookings, including group bookings, with the Airline, especially those who may not have the means to pay for alternative flights.”
“We are particularly concerned about the fate of the 2000, or so, workers of the Airline and their about 16000 dependents who are unfortunately caught up in this unneeded contraption. Under the current severe socio-economic upheavals, throwing such large numbers of citizens into economic quagmire can only worsen the forbearance strains.
This is apart from losses of other third party vendors and service providers – airports, aviation agencies, ground handlers, fuellers, caterers, etc. This will have a significant negative impact on the earnings of FAAN, NAMA, NIMET, NSIB, and NCAA.”
“Against the background of the negative consequences of the earlier similar grounding of Dana Air for which the industry is still counting the losses, we consider this avoidable situation to be truly worrisome.”
