Arik woos back customers with N16k tickets

With just N16,000, you can buy a one-way ticket on Arik Air, west and central Africa's largest carrier.

The airline, which is currently undergoing restructuring, announced the special promotional fare at the weekend.

One-way fights currently average over N20,000.
The promotion runs from March 6-20 March and "is to acknowledge and appreciate the loyalty of the airline's highly esteemed customers that have stood with the airline for over a decade of operation", the carrier said in a press statement.

It added: "To enjoy this offer however, customers are advised to buy their ticket on or before March 20, 2017, while the last date for travel is March 31, 2017… tickets can be purchased at any Arik Air City Office, Airport Ticketing Office, online at www.arikair.com or the Arik Mobile App."

Roy Ilegbodu, the CEO, said: "This is an exciting time for both staff and loyal customers of Arik Air. The new management has ensured stability of operations over the last three weeks with improved on-time-performance.

"Arrangements have been concluded to return five of the grounded aircraft back to service shortly and this will enable us add more flights to our network. We therefore welcome back our loyal customers and promise them a great flying experience."

Meanwhile, Arik Air has released a new schedule for its Kaduna operations following the planned closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the diversion of traffic to Kaduna Airport for six weeks.

Arik Air will be operating three daily flights between Kaduna and Lagos and one daily flight between Kaduna and Accra, Ghana during this period. Other destinations to be serviced by the airline from Kaduna are Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Sokoto, Gombe, Yola and Enugu, which will have one daily flight each.

Arik passengers stranded in Kaduna Airport for 4 days

Several passengers, including children, were stranded at Kaduna International Airport since on Tuesday, following the failure of Arik Airlines to airlift them as scheduled.
Some of the disappointed passengers made the complaint to the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, at the airport during the on-the-spot assessment of the facilities on ground at the airport.

They lamented that they had been parading the airport since on Tuesday just to board Arik air from Kaduna to Lagos to no avail without any explanation or apology from the airline officials.

They described the attitude of the operators of the airline as nonchalant because there was no any notification by any means. They added that it was until after the passengers approached the minister to complain that one of the official told them to come back on Saturday. The airline was said to have been canceling its flight without considering the distance they travelled from or the implication of such on their businesses.

One of the passengers who gave her name as Mrs Nkenna with her three kids told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that she and her family were supposed to have traveled to Lagos on Tuesday. She said the airline had been cancelling flight without prior notification, adding that it had been the same experience in the last four days.

“I and my family including our children are being stranded at Kaduna Airport by Arik Airline. “I don’t know what to do because the airline did not give us any prior notice to the cancellation of the flight; no SMS, no email. “We have been coming to the airport everyday since on Tuesday hoping to to board only for an official of the airline to tell us on Friday that we will board on Saturday.

Another affected passengers, Mrs Janet Oyedele, expressed her frustration with the airline, saying she was not aware of the cancelation of the flight until she got to the airport.

“One of the staff working at the airline’s counter assured us that the flight was rescheduled for Saturday but was not sure of the possibility of the flight.

“Arik Air seems to be a disgrace to this country and unfortunately for them, they are not the only carrier flying, why are other airlines not affected?

“The reason is Arik air has been messing up with passengers and getting away with it over time,” she said.

 Reacting to the four-day cancellation of flight, Arik Air Communications Manager, Mr Ola Adebanji, attributed the cancellation to fuel scarcity and bad weather. According to Adebanji, there is fuel scarcity earlier in the week coupled with bad weather.

So, it is not deliberate but if the weather is okay to fly today, they will go. On whether there would be any form of compensation for the passengers, he said he was not aware of that.

Stranded Arik Air Passengers Sleeping on the floor at Lagos Airport.

Touching Photos Of Arik Passengers Sleeping On The Floor At Lagos Airport

Stowaway Arrested At Lagos Airport.

The pilot of Arik Air flight W3 544, departing Benin Airport for Lagos at 9.00am today 24th August, 2013 reported to the control tower the presence of a strange boy in the bush about 200 – 300 meters  at the end of runway 23.
The control tower told the Captain that they were sending security men to the place to arrest the boy. 
As the captain was making his final turn, preparatory for take-off, a cabin crew called his attention to the information by some of the passengers that they saw a boy running towards the airplane.  The First Officer confirmed that they had observed it earlier and alerted the control tower which responded that they have sent the patrol team to arrest the boy.  The Captain again reported to the control tower and was informed that the situation was under control and that he had been cleared for take-off.
On arrival at the domestic wing of MMA, Lagos, a teenage boy, who apparently had sneaked into the aircraft main wheel well jumped out and was arrested by Arik personnel and handed over to FAAN security.
The management of Arik Air has expressed shock over the incident wondering how the teenager beat the Aviation Security personnel at the Benin Airport to get to the runway.
Arik Air’s Managing Director Mr. Chris Ndulue commented:
“We are worried by the incessant security lapses at our airports.  We are appealing to the management of FAAN to immediately address the problem.”
 

Press Release from Arik Airline.