Arik Air has said it is not worried about Aero
Contractors or any other carrier being named a national carrier.
Arik’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Michael
Arumemi-Ikhide said this at the sidelines of Arik Air’s unveiling of its brand
new aircraft, Bombadier CRJ-1000, a new generation aircraft in Lagos.
Dr. Arumemi-Ikhide said Arik isn’t focused on compe-tition from a national carrier or any other carrier but only focused on delivering on its core business mandate.
But “If given opportunity to be the national carrier, we are ready even today”, he declared.
“I don’t believe in focusing too much on competition. It is important to recognise competition, but my philosophy is, if I focus on my business, if I focus is on my products and services are the best that they can be, it is the customers that will dictate who should succeed. I’m not worried. At the end of the day, it is for the benefit of Nigeria” he said.
He noted that what’s important is that Nigeria should be the better for it. “We have over 150 million people, the market is phenomenal. The market penetration so far is less than 10 percent. So we need more carriers for the good of our people. So if a national carrier will mean more flying opportunity for Nigerians, more economic development, if it means happier travellers, if it means a more prosperous nation, it’s all good. But let it be the best, let it be for the benefit of the customers and let the airline but of sound standard, reliable and safe.”
“But let us not retreat to the days before the rested national carrier that kept lives at risk. If these are in place, I will wish the new national carrier good luck but I’m not bother because my focus is on myself” he said.
Speaking on Arik’s expansion drive, the CEO said Arik’s “plan going forward is to connect the West African market entirely from Lagos and Abuja”.
According to him, “We will also connect the Central and East African markets from Lagos and Abuja. In the next 6 years we will increase our fleet by 90 percent, bringing in again, like the CRJ1000, new technology, new innovations and also address the service delivery needs of our customers.”
He said the airline would increase its international frequencies in 2014.
Dr. Arumemi-Ikhide said Arik isn’t focused on compe-tition from a national carrier or any other carrier but only focused on delivering on its core business mandate.
But “If given opportunity to be the national carrier, we are ready even today”, he declared.
“I don’t believe in focusing too much on competition. It is important to recognise competition, but my philosophy is, if I focus on my business, if I focus is on my products and services are the best that they can be, it is the customers that will dictate who should succeed. I’m not worried. At the end of the day, it is for the benefit of Nigeria” he said.
He noted that what’s important is that Nigeria should be the better for it. “We have over 150 million people, the market is phenomenal. The market penetration so far is less than 10 percent. So we need more carriers for the good of our people. So if a national carrier will mean more flying opportunity for Nigerians, more economic development, if it means happier travellers, if it means a more prosperous nation, it’s all good. But let it be the best, let it be for the benefit of the customers and let the airline but of sound standard, reliable and safe.”
“But let us not retreat to the days before the rested national carrier that kept lives at risk. If these are in place, I will wish the new national carrier good luck but I’m not bother because my focus is on myself” he said.
Speaking on Arik’s expansion drive, the CEO said Arik’s “plan going forward is to connect the West African market entirely from Lagos and Abuja”.
According to him, “We will also connect the Central and East African markets from Lagos and Abuja. In the next 6 years we will increase our fleet by 90 percent, bringing in again, like the CRJ1000, new technology, new innovations and also address the service delivery needs of our customers.”
He said the airline would increase its international frequencies in 2014.
source: Daily Trust
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