Arik Air resumes flight operations after resolving $2.5 million debt dispute with Atlas Petroleum
Arik Air resumed flight operations on Thursday after efficiently resolving a $2.5 million debt dispute with Atlas Petroleum, which had led to a few of the airline’s plane being grounded by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) following a courtroom order.
The announcement was made by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Client Safety of the NCAA, by way of his official X (previously Twitter) account on Thursday.
Achimugu said that the resumption of the airline’s flight operations was facilitated by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Improvement, Festus Keyamo, SAN, and the Director Basic of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, efficiently resolved the deadlock between Arik Air and Atlas Petroleum.
“The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Improvement, Festus Keyamo SAN, and the DG of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo has efficiently resolved the deadlock between Arik Air and Atlas Petroleum.
“By this decision, Arik Air will start operations right this moment.
“The precedence of the Minister and the NCAA stays to make sure secure and safe air journey for all passengers.
“Arik Air passengers are at the moment checking in for scheduled flights,” Achimugu’s put up learn.
Corroborating Achimugu’s announcement, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, CEO of Arik Air Ltd., confirmed in a Thursday assertion that the airline would resume flight operations on August 8.
He assured clients of a easy return to service, highlighting that your entire Arik Air workforce had labored tirelessly throughout the temporary pause to boost the journey expertise.
Backstory
- Arik Air owed Atlas Petroleum Worldwide Restricted the sum of $2.5 million, main Atlas to take Arik to courtroom.
- On July 19, 2024, the FCT Excessive Courtroom enforced a courtroom order that scheduled three of the airline’s plane—5N-MJF, 5N-MJQ, and 5N-BKX—for a public public sale on July 26, 2024, if the debt was not paid.
- Arik’s appeals to larger courts, together with the Supreme Courtroom, have been dismissed. An order from June 26, 2024, confirmed the attachment of Arik’s plane.
- Though Arik obtained an ex parte order to halt additional execution, the plane remained grounded to adjust to the Supreme Courtroom’s directive and protect the dispute’s material.
- Subsequently, upon courtroom order, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) grounded these three Arik Air plane pending the case’s dedication by the Supreme Courtroom.
- Nevertheless, the NCAA’s grounding of the three plane didn’t translate to the suspension of the airline’s operations with its remaining fleet. Arik Air continues to function its different plane and keep its flight schedules.
