The aviation agencies comprising Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), have said that the labour unions that disrupted Arik Air’s flight leading to the airline’s suspension of its domestic operations acted without their knowledge, even as the said unions have suspended their action against the airline.
In a joint press briefing by the agencies yesterday, the chief executive officers: Dr. Harold Demuren (NCAA), George Uriesi (FAAN) and Engineer Nnamdi Udoh (NAMA) unanimously said the aviation unions comprising Air Traffic Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) took laws into their hands by taking action against Arik Air. They maintained that the union members embarked on the action without giving prior information to the aviation agencies.
Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. George Uriesi, who read the statement on behalf of the other agencies said: “Following the industrial action embarked upon by the unions in the aviation industry yesterday (Thursday) which led to the grounding of Arik Air’s operations, we are pleased to inform Nigerians travelling and the general public that the management of NCAA, FAAN and NAMA met with the leaders of the unions this morning and afternoon. As a result of this intervention, the unions called off the action and Arik Air is free to commence flight operations as normal.”
He however reiterated that Arik Air owes FAAN N7billion and $44,000 for services rendered, adding that the Arik Air’s claims for damage to its aircraft at Calabar Airport should be forwarded to Arik Air’s insurance firm and not FAAN.