….achieves 19.3% share as experts praise performance
Despite operating under Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) receivership since 2017, Arik Air transported 2,239,176 passengers in 2024, according to a report from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
This figure positions the airline as the second most active in Nigeria’s domestic market, trailing only Air Peace. The airline also operated 10,699 flights during the year.
The NCAA’s Executive Summary on International and Domestic Flight Operations 2024 revealed that Arik Air captured 19.3 percent of the total 11,549,443 domestic air travelers, with 1,112,358 inbound and 1,126,818 outbound passengers.
The airline’s monthly traffic varied, peaking in November with 508,026 passengers and experiencing a surge in flights during July and August.
Industry experts have lauded Arik Air’s performance. Olumide Ohunayo, General Secretary of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative, highlighted the airline’s resilience and strategic management, noting its 13.4 percent market share despite financial constraints and regulatory challenges.
He also pointed out the impact of a high court order that grounded some of the airline’s aircraft.
Roland Iyayi, MD of Top Brass Aviation Limited, described Arik Air’s achievement as “huge and massive,” particularly considering the disruptions faced under receivership.
He emphasized the crucial role of AMCON’s support in stabilizing the airline and maintaining passenger confidence, stating that without AMCON’s intervention, Arik Air’s continued operation would have been jeopardized.
The NCAA report also showed Arik Air maintained a relatively low complaint rate, with only 190 complaints throughout the year, most of which were resolved.
Notably, the airline reported zero baggage misses and only one instance of overbooking/denied flight.
The airline also proved to be a major player in domestic flights, operating 15.1 percent of the total 70,543 flights operated by domestic airlines.
