It is a new dawn for Nigeria’s major carrier, Arik Air as it relocates its Lagos to Port Harcourt operations from the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMA), Lagos to the modern, state of the art domestic terminal, known as MMA2.
The airline said the choice of MMA2 for the airline’s Port Harcourt flights was for its passengers to enjoy the comfort of the new terminal and to reduce pressure on GAT where it is still processing other domestic destinations.
What is historical about the movement is that being the largest domestic carrier, the owner and management of MMA2, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) since the past 10 years had looked forward to Arik Air operating from the most modern airport terminal in Nigeria, but it never happened because of past disagreements between the management of the two companies.
The relocation marks the end of the disagreement and opens new opportunity for business partnership, as the airline will benefit from the efficient services of the terminal, while BASL will gain from Arik Air’s well-known huge passenger traffic to Port Harcourt.
At a brief ceremony to mark maiden schedule flight operation from the new terminal, representative of BASL, who is also the public relations manager at MMA2, Mr. Steve Omolale, said the commencement of Arik Air operations from the terminal is one of the greatest achievements of BASL this year.
While assuring travellers and the airline of safety in all operations, Omolale said the terminal has all the facilities to accommodate all domestic airlines, adding that already, six are operating from the terminal.
“This is a facility that will make your passengers feel safe and secure, this is a terminal where you have modern facilities, we spend millions of naira in maintaining the terminal every month and we say we have the facilities to accommodate more airlines.
“We assure you of the best services you can ever think of and of the sustenance of the high standards in this facility”, he said.
Also speaking Vice President, Arik Air ground operations, Mr. Murat Ozcan, commended the efforts of BASL at putting such edifice which meets standard airport terminal anywhere in the world, adding that the airline is happy to commence part of its operations from the terminal and it is looking forward to good partnership with the management of BASL.
