Passengers who have flown Arik aircraft to Abuja and Port Harcourt recently have expressed curiosity about why the airline uses foreign crews on these routes.
BusinessDay’s checks show that the airline recently entered into a wet-lease agreement with a Tunisian airline which requires that the lessor will provide the crew that will operate the leased aircraft. Banji Ola, Arik Air Communication Manager, who confirmed the development to BusinessDay said he doesn’t know the nationality of the crew but the crew was provided by the lessor as the agreement states.
“We are operating a wet-lease. I don’t know the nationality of the crew but the airline is Tunisian. A wet-lease agreement operates Aircraft Crew Maintenance Insurance (ACMI). In a wet lease arrangement, the aircraft owner provides the aircraft, the insurance, the crew, and the maintenance,” Ola added.
He disclosed that the wet-lease will last six months in the first stage and the aircraft operates into Abuja and Port Harcourt every day. Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said there is nothing unusual if indigenous carriers consider aircraft wet lease as options for survival. All that is required from the operator is to furnish the regulatory body with the terms of such a deal in line with statutory requirements.
Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Affairs, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said the regulator does not frown at domestic airlines securing operating leases which is a temporary arrangement to take care of some situations.
Adurogboye said the NCAA was aware of the wet-lease agreement between Value Jets and Arik Air affirming that it was an operational agreement to assist the airline.
“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has been notified by Arik Air of its wet-lease agreement with Value Jets. It is nothing unusual in global aviation wet leasing of aircraft is an interim measure to take care of aircraft scarcity, such that the airline does not have operational issues.“
While the short term agreement lasts, the aircraft provider takes care of the crew, aircraft maintenance, insurance, and other issues. The airline, in this case, Arik Air pays for fueling, catering and airport and other aeronautical charges,” Adurogboye said.
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