Nigeria’s foremost carrier, Arik Air has added more routes to its operations as it increases its operational aircraft.
The airline which has the highest domestic, sub-regional and international network before 2017 has started extending service to hitherto unserviced routes.
In the coming days the airline would extend service to some new destination in Nigeria, in West and Central Africa; however, the airline under the management of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) said adequate plans need to be in place before venturing in such long haul operations like London, Johannesburg and New York.
Speaking at a training forum organised on Wednesday for its travel agents in Lagos, CEO of Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu said many Nigerians want them to open the international routes but one of the things the airline realized was that they should not go into the international routes without proper planning.
Ilegbodu who made it clear that an airline should be well positioned when going on international routes said if it possible, airline should get their partnerships and allowances right before going into the international route” .
“You should also go with the right aircraft in terms of fuel efficiency, seat capacity and things like that and then fall back such that when the Queen is down, there is a support system that enables you to recover your service quickly”, he adddd.
The CEO who was represented by the Chief Commercial Officer and Head Receivership Support of AMCOM, Mr Omokide Kamilu also pointed out that If an airline do not have all those things well arranged and go to the international routes, the carrier will surely burn it’s fingers.
He therefore, said that going back to the international routes is a decision for Arik Air to make and it would be carefully made.
“We’re not going to just rush into international routes”, he said.
On the plans AMCOM have for Arik, Ilegbodu stated “We are very clear as AMCON as to what our role in Arik is. We’re primarily a debt recovery company. We were set up by the Federal Government to stabilize the banking industry primarily and by extension companies that have borrowed from the banking industry”
Emphasizing that AMCOM is not going into aviation business, the CEO maintained that their job in Arik is to first stabilize it so that they can put the company in a position to repay its loans.
“The aviation industry is very critical to Nigerian economy. Arik too is big, Aero is big, that’s why you see a lot of direct AMCON interest in those companies, otherwise we wouldn’t be. Our job is to recover our money and in doing this we also want the Nigerian people to get some benefit by stabilizing this company”, Ilegbodu said.
Stating that Arik Air is currently on about 15 aircraft while running between 10 and 12 aircraft, Ilegbodu said that Arik Air left Maiduguri route but has now reopened it and that the route is doing well.
“We are planning to reopen Bauchi very soon under a partnership with the government. We plan to open other routes and opened some routes in the West Coast taking advantage of our increased capabilities”, he said.
Meanwhile, travel agents who spoke to journalists commended AMCOM, stressing that the airline has fully regained air passengers’ confidence unlike before.
Phillip Adeleke of Bon Voyage Travels said that, with innovations AMCOM has put in place, confidence has fully returned and that air passengers have developed interest once again in the airline.
Another travel agent and Arik Air trade partner, Mrs Margaret Ekerete pointed out that AMCOM has transformed Arik for good.
Pointing the current platform the airline is using as a right step in the right direction, the travel agent said “I think the platform Arik is using is very good. Our airlines and agents find it very convenient. In a general term, I am very happy Arik Air is back in the air, resuming all its major operations with buoyant plans going forward
