Nigeria’s major carrier, Arik Air, is contemplating resuming international flights, especially Lagos-New York since the management has been able to stabilise the airline.
This was disclosed by the Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Roy Ilegbodu during the visit of Razak Adeleke Jaiyeola, the 54th President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, (ICAN), to Arik Air head office in Lagos.
Ilegbodu explained that to commence the process of re-opening New-York route is quite complex, especially having to settle debts left behind by the past management.
“The past management left a lot of debts internationally and those are part of the issues we have to address before going to other routes abroad,” Ilegbodu added.
He said, “We plan to recommence modalities for our New York and other international operations sooner or later. Sometime next year we will commence the process, we will look at the critically because the process is complex. This process is not easy, it would take at least a year or eighteen 18 months to get back to that stage.
“It will happen, but it will not happen soon as the past management left a lot of debt and they need to be addressed before we fly to other routes internationally.”
The Arik boss however said the current management was on the threshold of taking the airline to greater glory as it has stabilized the ship.
“We’ve had our ups and downs but we have stabilized and are consolidating. In the near future, you will see an airline that is better than before.”
He expressed hope that the relationship it shares with ICAN would wax stronger adding that Arik as an airline has employed over five chartered accountants and is not hesitant to employ such top notch professionals into its service.
Speaking earlier, Adeleke Jaiyeola, the 54th ICAN president appreciated the great strides in Arik and the renewed vigour that has championed the airline’s turn around.
“We appreciate the great strides of Arik, the renewed vigour and the consolidation in the airline that has kept it. We also want to thank you for engaging our members of the institute and tell you it is a good development and also enjoin you to employ many more.”
The ICAN President hinted that it will leverage technology at its conference coming up 29th and 30th of April, appealing to the airline to give its members sponsorship.
Jaiyeola said the conference was about creating awareness and keeping its members abreast with the latest and most convenient technology in Information Technology (IT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet and other technology that can be deployed to make their works smoother and so they don’t become irrelevant.
