Arik Air, Lufthansa seal partnership deal .

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Thursday, 06 September 2012 07:32 BusinessDay

Arik Air and Lufthansa Technik of Germany have sealed a new partnership deal that will ensure safe operations and support further growth of the Nigerian airline.
Lufthansa is West and Central Africa’s largest carrier and world renowned aircraft maintenance service provider. A statement issued by Arik airline’s spokesman Ola Adebanji on Wednesday said the agreement was sealed during a meeting held at Arik Air corporate head office in Lagos where the two organisations agreed to strengthen their partnership concluded about five years ago.
Under the new partnership, Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cityline will continue to provide technical support to Arik Air in the areas of line maintenance, base maintenance, and materials and pool spare parts for the next five years. It said Lufthansa Technik would also assist Arik Air in the area of personnel training and the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility in Nigeria.
The leader of the Lufthansa team, who is also the Sales and Marketing Director, Mr Clemens Schrettl, said he was impressed with the outcome of the meeting, describing the deliberations as fruitful. ``Lufthansa is happy with the partnership we have had with Arik in the last five years and that is why we are here today to renew that cooperation and seek further areas of cooperation with the airline. We are looking at taking this partnership to the next level,” the statement quoted Schrettl as saying.
Mr Chris Ndulue , Arik Air Executive Vice President and Managing Director, who led the airline’s team to the meeting, thanked Lufthansa for its technical support over the years. ``Our association with Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cityline has been of great advantage in the maintenance of our young aircraft fleet. It also underscores our commitment to ensuring safety of our passengers at all times.”
The statement added that both Technik and Cityline have a combined workforce of 50 engineers dedicated to Arik Air’s aircraft maintenance.
It also stated that all expendables and consumables had been certified by Lufthansa Technik and Cityline who maintain operations in the Arik Air hangar.
(NAN)