AS controversy trails the status of Arik Air following the recent grounding of its fleet over its alleged indebtedness to Atlas Petroleum International Limited and Engineer Arthur Eze, unions in the country’s aviation sector have called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in what they termed the reckless grounding of the aircraft in the fleet of the airline.
In a letter addressed to the president by the unions, consisting of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Traffic Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the Nigerian Association Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) titled, ‘Please, Save Our Souls Over the Reckless Grounding Of Arik Air Fleet, they expressed shock over the grounding of four aircraft in the fleet of the airline.
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The grounding of the airline’s aircraft, according to the unions, has created “anguish and severe frustration among Arik Air’s passengers and has exacerbated the present air travel challenges in our dear Country.
“Mr President can imagine the state of mind of those who have made both short and long term bookings, including group bookings, with the Airline, especially those who may not have the means to pay for alternative flights.
“We are particularly concerned about the fate of the 2,000, or so, workers of the Airline and their about 16,000 dependents who are unfortunately caught up in this unneeded contraption. Under the current severe socioeconomic upheavals, throwing such large numbers of citizens into economic quagmire can only worsen the forbearance strains. This is apart from losses of other third party vendors and service providers – airports, aviation agencies, ground handlers, fuellers, caterers, etc. This will have significant negative impact on the earnings of FAAN, NAMA, NIMET, NSIB, and NCAA.
“Against the background of the negative consequences of the earlier similar grounding of Dana Air for which the industry is still counting the losses, we consider this avoidable situation to be truly worrisome.
“Your Excellency, Sir, while we cannot arrogate the review of any judicial decision regarding the matter to ourselves as trade unions, we are strongly of the opinion that the mentioned fleet of aircraft cannot be subject of attachment to any writ that might have occasioned the grounding of the airline as the fleet of aircraft do not belong to Arik Air as such, it being lien belonging to secured creditors.”
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