The management of Arik Air has resumed flights after its staff under the aegis of the National Association of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) shut down its operations yesterday over some irreconcilable labour and welfare related matters.
The picketing disrupted the airline’s operations in Lagos thereby preventing its personnel from processing passengers at both the Murtala Muhammed Airport Domestic Terminals 1 and 2.
Spokesman for the airline, Mr. Adebanji Ola said in a statement on Friday that the carrier’s management was able to reconcile the impasse with NUATE.
“All our afternoon and evening flights for Friday, 04 December 2020, will be operating. Subsequent flights will also operate as scheduled.
“Once again, we apologise to all our valued customers for the disruption to their travel plans on Thursday and Friday and assure them that the incessant union unrest has finally been put behind us.
“Passengers with tickets who could not fly on the days of the disruption can modify such tickets at no extra cost to travel at any time.
“We thank our esteemed customers for their understanding, confidence and support during this period,” he said.
However, Ola announced that the management had declared 300 staff redundant.
He said the action was informed by the “devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the constrained ability of the airline to complete heavy maintenance activities and return its planes to operations, stunted revenues against increasing operational costs.”
He added: “The leadership of the impacted unions have been contacted to negotiate a redundancy package for the affected staff.
“Over 50 per cent of Arik Air’s workforce of over 1,600 staff have been on furlough in the past six months on a base allowance.
“Decisions to let go off staff is naturally a difficult decision. Arik Air wishes the impacted staff well in their future endeavours.”
