Arik Airline, one of Nigeria’s biggest private airlines, suspended its operations on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 leaving hundreds of passengers stranded in airports around the country.
An official at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport confirmed this development to the press saying that none of the airline’s flights took off on Tuesday.
“Passengers are stranded at the airport now. The situation is even better because today is a public holiday,” the official, who didn’t wish to be named because he wasn’t authorised to speak to the press on the matter, said.
“We don’t know what will happen by tomorrow.”
Last week, Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide, chairman of Arik Airlines, said that airlines that are still in operation in the country were only doing national service.
Arumemi-Ikhide said the fiscal and forex policies of the Muhammadu Buhari administration did not favour the airline industry.
Two week ago, the 2nd biggest airline in the country, Aero Contractors and First Nation suspended their flights.
