Many stranded as airport authority stops Arik's operation

dimeji akinloye

April 23, 2015 8:51 PM

Eyewitnesses say the airport authority grounded Arik's operations for over 6 hours.

Passengers at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, who were scheduled to travel to Ibadan by Arik Air but were left stranded for hours, block boarding gate at Abuja Airport January 30, 2015, in protest.

Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Thursday, April 23, 2015, stopped Arik Air from flying at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded for hours.

It was gathered that the brawl, which occurred at the domestic wing of the airport, stemmed from Arik’s refusal to pay owed dues to the airport authority.

But the airline dismissed the claims by FAAN that it is indebt.

According to eyewitnesses, the airport authority grounded Arik’s operations till about 5pm on Thursday.

“Many passengers were left stranded at the terminal and they were passengers of Arik Air. Other airlines were allowed to fly but Arik was stopped. They only started operating from around 4.30pm,” an airport official told Punch.

However, Arik Air reacted to the issue in a statement, saying the airport authority’s allegation of debt against the organization is ‘fictitious and malicious’

“The latest action may not be unconnected with allegation of debt FAAN claimed Arik Air owed. The airline has described the debt figure by the agency as fictitious and malicious,” the statement read.

Report says FAAN has a long standing issue with Arik over indebtedness.

dimeji akinloye