Arik Air removes CRJ 1000 from fleet, aircraft to be torn down

Arik Air says it has removed the CRJ 1000 aircraft from its fleet.

The CRJ 1000 is a twin-engined regional airliner with a capacity of 100 passengers.

In a statement issued on Friday, the airline said the development is due to the decision of JEM Leasing Limited, the owners of the CRJ 1000, and its financiers to sell the aircraft.

The airline said the buyer of the affected aircraft had also decided to tear it down.

Arik Air explained that as the lessee of the aircraft since 2014, it operated the aeroplane under a lease agreement with JEM Leasing Limited.

The airline, however, said that it had discontinued the operations of the CRJ aircraft in its fleet since 2019.

“Arik Air, Nigeria’s leading airline, wishes to notify the public of the decision of JEM Leasing Limited owners of the CRJ 1000 registered as 5N-JEE and its financiers Export Development Canada (EDC) to sell the airplane. We equally wish to notify on the decision of the buyer to tear down the plane,” the statement reads.

“Arik Air, as the lessee since 2014, operated the Aircraft pursuant to a lease agreement with JEM Leasing Limited. Arik discontinued operations of the CRJ fleet since 2019.

“Arik Air would like to assure all stakeholders, including passengers, partners, and the general public, that the decision by the owner and financier of the Aircraft will not impact Arik’s operations or compromise its commitment to providing safe, reliable, and convenient air travel services.”

In February 2017, Arik Air was taken over by the federal government via the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) due to the company’s huge debt profile, which was over N300 billion.

The government immediately dissolved the airline’s management team, and appointed a receiver-manager.

Arik Air is still under receivership of AMCON.