Arik Air to resume domestic flights on July 8

Arik Air says it will resume domestic flights on July 8, 2020, in accordance with the federal government’s directive on the reopening of Lagos and Abuja airports.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Adebanji Ola, its public relations and communications manager, on Sunday.

“The airline will be operating three daily flights from Lagos to Abuja in the first phase of the restart while Port Harcourt will be added to the schedule from Saturday, July 11, 2020, when the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa is reopened for operations,” the statement read.

“Passengers have been assured of their safety and well-being at every stage of their flight as the airline has put various measures in place in line with COVID-19 health protocols as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the federal government of Nigeria.”

The airline also advised passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before departure as advised by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) so as to have ample time to undergo all security and health protocols.

The statement added that all passengers are required to be properly kitted with face masks worn.

“We are ready to fly our esteemed customers again. All preparations have been made to make flying in this extraordinary period in the world safe and pleasurable,” Roy Ilegbodu, Arik Air chief executive officer, said.

“Arik has worked actively with aviation agencies for an effective re-start of the industry and also ensure that agreed health measures are effectively implemented.”

The airline suspended its flights’ operations on March 27, 2020, in order to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

On July 1, the federal government announced that domestic flights operations will begin first at the Lagos and Abuja airports on July 8 followed by Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri and Maiduguri airports on July 11; while other airports can resume on July 15.