Arik restates commitment to pay priority attention to safety

The management of Arik Air has reiterated the fact that it would continue to pay priority attention to safety, which the airline is known for.

A statement by the airline stated that it will continue to strive for the best despite desperate motives of some mischievous elements in the society to ridicule the efforts of the government to rehabilitate ailing Arik Airline, which recently came under receivership due to gross mismanagement and heavy debt profile.

“Irrespective of the enemies of the government and their resolve to transform the career, the management of Arik (under Receivership) is not distracted. Arik will continue to maintain the highest operational and safety standards, which the airline has been known for since its inception in 2006,”the statement stated.

The statement also added that the takeover of the airline by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the appointment of a Receiver/ Manager has not in any way eroded the confidence of the flying public and all other business partners of the largest carrier in Nigeria.

The statement further stated that the new management team led by Roy Ilegbodu, is more safety conscious.

According to Ilegbodu, “Arik management team took over the affairs of Arik in February; they met a depleted fleet and 18 unserviceable aircraft, without a single spare part in the store, which is highly unethical and dangerous in aviation business. It was, therefore, only a matter of time for the few serviceable aircraft to be grounded.

“Arik management also wishes to inform the public that the Maintenance/Engineering department of the airline is still alive to its responsibility of ensuring reliability, monitoring, original equipment manufacturers service letters and American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) notifications, and ensuring that Arik Air’s fleet is maintained according to standards complementing Airworthiness at all times,” Ilegbodu added.

 

IFEOMA OKEKE