by Isi Esene

The chief executives of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), George Uriesi; Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Harold Demuren, and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nnamdi Udoh yesterday conducted a joint press briefing explaining that the labour unions which disrupted the Arik Air domestic flight operations on Wednesday did so without their prior knowledge.

In the it was disclosed that members of the 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) reportedly took laws into their hands by taking action against Arik Air but the industrial action have now been suspended by the unions to allow the airline resume its normal flight operations.

George Uriesi, managing director of the FAAN, while presenting the joint statement 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.”

The FAAN boss used the opportunity to inform the public that Arik Air is indebted to the agency to the tune of N7bn and $44,000 for services rendered advising the airline company to approach its insurance company to receive claims for damage to its aircraft at Calabar Airport and not the FAAN.