Three major aviation unions have appealed to President Bola Tinubu for intervention in the grounding of Arik Air’s fleet.
The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) are concerned about the airline’s halted operations.
Arik Air’s three aircraft were grounded last week by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on the orders of Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
This action followed a Supreme Court order related to a $2.5 million debt owed to Atlas Petroleum. The grounding has disrupted the airline’s operations, exacerbating existing capacity issues in the aviation sector.
The unions argue that the grounded aircraft are under secured creditors’ control and should not be subject to grounding orders.
They have called on President Tinubu to instruct relevant agencies to allow Arik Air to resume operations while the financial issues are resolved, stressing the impact on the airline’s workers, their dependents, and third-party service providers.
(Daily Trust)