Nigerian and UK governments commence talks aimed at getting Arik to resume flights to London

NIGERIA and the United Kingdom have entered into negotiations to find means of addressing the matter of infrastructural support for aviation security and the return of Arik Air into the UK market.

Nigeria's largest indigenous airline, Arik Air flew to London's Heathrow Airport on a daily basis until early this year when it ceased flying after running into financial difficulties. However, the Nigerian government is seeking to revive the airline either by selling it or converting it into a national carrier, so it can resume international operations.

In February this year, Arik announced the suspension of its international flight operations to London and South Africa,  stating that it would focus on the domestic and West African routes. However, the Nigerian government promised to provide a national carrier and Arik is seen as central to this election pledge.

As part of its plans to revive the aviation sector,  the federal government is also discussing with the Kano State government to see how it can resume international flights by the likes of Emirates, Turkish Airlines and KLM to the Mallam Aminu International Airport in Kano. Since the recent cash crunch in Nigeria, several airlines cut back their operations in the country because they were unable to repatriate funds they gathered.

Arik Air suffered a lot from this crunch as it struggled to purchase aviation fuel, pay its licence fees at international airports and meet its insurance premiums. It has since been taken over by the federal government with ministers in discussions with its creditors who had become restive since the intervention of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria in the operations of the carrier.

Minister of state for aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, said he met the aviation minister of the UK and they both discussed the matter of Arik Air as well as aviation security. He added that discussions centred on infrastructural support for aviation security and the return of Arik Air to the London route.