Arik Air’s flight disruption: The Way Out

The imbroglio   between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Arik Air on debt reconciliation rears its ugly head again last week Friday when staff of FAAN disrupted the operations of the airline in its entirety. The  first disruption happened 20^th April, 2016. Three months later, FAAN staff again disrupted Arik Air’s operations on the 29^th of August, 2016. 

This unsettled financial obligation is unhealthy for the aviation of Nigeria, making it a laughing stock in the comity of nations. Aviation stakeholders lend their voices and proffer solutions to the rift:

According to Deba Uwadiae an aviation publisher residing in the United States of America, “People and organisations should do whatever is constitutionally right. This includes airlines and airport workers.”

Also, National President of Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Comrade Benjamin Okewu said: “The way out is very simple. Arik and any other end user of services must be ready to pay for services rendered to them. Arik should not operate or see herself as another government or an organization that is above the law. FAAN is empowered by law to charge for services they render,  Arik cannot be dictating which of the charges and what they want to pay. FAAN have nothing allocated to her in 2016 budget so it cannot be business as usual. Pay or they halt de service”

An airline operator said, “Arik Air should seek audience with FAAN and find a way to settle this issue. FAAN is  a government organisation and as such have nothing to lose but disruption and embarrassment to Arik.  If other operators in the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) pay FAAN for services rendered, why not Arik? A friendly atmosphere between the two organisations will go a long way to resolving and ameliorate this financial mess than continuous tabloid publications, which serves only the news media but negative publicity for Arik.”

 Another aviation analyst who prefers anonymity said, “Arik has been a very proud organization. Not paying taxes you collected on behalf of government is wrong. They have been using government contacts to perpetrate this. Let them discuss and agree on a monthly payment schedule with FAAN.”

Arik Air and FAAN as a matter of urgency should reconcile because one organization cannot survive without the other. Both parties should enjoy a symbiotic relationship which will result in a win-win situation.