As industry stakeholders continue to speculate on the choice of an indigenous airline to be designated as national carrier by the government, Arik Air said it has not been approached in that capacity by the federal government.
Arik Air managing director, Chris Ndulue, who spoke to journalists in Lagos during the seventh anniversary of the airline also said governments no longer run airlines in the 21st century. Answering reporters’ question at the airline’s corporate head office in Lagos, he said: “I don’t think government runs airlines in the 21 century. We at Arik Air have shareholders and the federal government has not approached us.
“We should deal with realities on ground. It is left to the federal government whether they want to go into the airline business.”
He however described Arik Air as a success story following its landmark achievements in the industry within its short period of operation. He also disclosed plan by the airline to establish a Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facility in Nigeria in partnership with Lufthansa Technik and Bombardier Aircraft Manufacturer.
He also disclosed that Arik Air would launch its Bombadier’s CRJ1000NG aircraft in December this year. He also said Arik Air has invested about $2 million in the training of 16 cadet pilots, while 1.5 million pounds was spent in the training of 60 ab-initio pilots. He also said the airline has trained 18 female pilots “the highest by any Nigerian airline.”
Culled from Leadership
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