Nigeria’s major carrier, Arik Air has said it has restored its Gombe, Osubi flights and has also resumed its Lagos-Port Harcourt flights to MMA2, as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has suspended the withdrawal of its services to the aforementioned airports and MMA2.
Spokesman of the airline in a statement on Monday said,”Arik Air is reinstating flights to Osubi Airport, Warri and Gombe Airport as well as move all Port Harcourt bound flights back to Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) with immediate effect.
“This follows the suspension of an earlier decision by Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s (FAAN) to withdraw Aviation Security, fire fighting and rescue services to the airports.”
FAAN said it suspended its plan to withdraw services from Gombe, Kebbi airports and Bebi airstrip over debts owed it amounting to N808610, 160.
According to the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, the agency decided to suspend the planned withdrawal because the management of the aforementioned airports have reached out to FAAN.
“We would have withdrawn our service to these airports but they reached out to us and said we would plan the modalities for the liquidation of the debts. But they would not have reached out to us if we didn’t plan to withdraw our services. We have made overtures to them, entreated them and gave then notice for over a month. They realised that our withdrawal of services will affect their operations during the Christmas holiday,” she said.
Meanwhile, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) the operator of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos domestic terminal (MMA2) has said that it was erroneously mentioned as being indebted to FAAN.
BASL in a statement said, “The management of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Ikeja, Lagos, has restated its commitment to ensure seamless flight operations and services at the terminal.
This is coming on the heels of the release by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in the form of a Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) that with effect from Monday 10thDecember 2018, Aviation Security Personnel will be withdrawn from the terminal. This action is due to alleged financial infractions against BASL.”
BASL recalled that FAAN had threatened to withdraw its personnel from MMA2 due to alleged indebtedness to the tune of N1, 943,323,516.50 billion.
“In a letter dated 30 October 2018 to BASL pertaining to outstanding personnel costs for FAAN staff deployed to MMA2, demanding Bi-Courtney to pay for the provision of the aviation security, rescue and fire fighting services as invoiced by FAAN among other charges or face withdrawing its personnel. This was formally responded to in a letter addressed to FAAN reiterating BASL’s stance on the demands for payments of purported outstanding liabilities,” the company said.
Besides BASL, Bebi , Gombe, Kebbi Airports are indebted to over N808,610, 160 million with Gombe owing N607, 289, 972 while Kebbi owes N124, 547, 240 and Bebi Airstrip owes N76,772, 948.
Also, FAAN said Osubi airport in Warri owes it, N45,745, 985.52; however, the airport may have expressed intention to pay the agency.
