A Boeing 737-700 aircraft belonging to Arik Air is currently undergoing a name change from Arik Air to Nigeria Eagle, NG Eagle at one of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities of Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
The aircraft, is to changed to a new brand airline being facilitated by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON.
The Boeing 737-700 has been in the MRO facility for over three weeks after undergoing a C-Check.
This again has confirmed the resolve of AMCON to start a new airline from the Arik Air fleet which has been under receivership of AMCON since 2017.
The proposed new airline christened NG Eagle is learnt to be in the last stage of acquiring an Air Operators’ certificate (AOC) from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Confirming that a new airline is to commence operations soon, the Director General, NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu at a news conference in Lagos said, the Nigeria Eagle (NG Eagle) was among the new airlines currently undergoing Airline Operators Certificate, AOC, acquisition.
According to investigation, a source close to Arik Air who pleaded anonymity said, the aircraft may be leased to a start up airline, which is scheduled to commence operations before the end of the fourth quarter of 2021.
Meanwhile, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, ANAP, and the National Union of Pensioners, FAAN branch, are heading for a showdown with the Management of the airline over failure to pay up incurred debts to the tune of N19billion.
The unions have therefore written to the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika callinh on him, to stop the issuance Air Operator’s Certificate to NG Eagle.
Comrades Abdulrazak Saidu and Emeka Njoku both scribes of the unions say, their call to stop the AOC issuance to the new airline has become necessary to avoid tolling the path of Bellview Air which transformed to FirstNation with huge debts to aviation service providers that were never paid.
“Arik Airlines has been owing for services rendered by Aviation Service providers to the tune of #19 Billion Naira which they agreed but refused to pay”.
“The Aviation Unions are calling on all Aviation Staff across the country to prepare for a show down with Arik Airlines as a result of huge indebtedness of Arik Airlines to Aviation service providers which is now affecting operation services rendered by these agencies”.
“It has equally affected Aviation Staff negatively to carry out the duties and responsibilities to other Airlines and passengers in general”.
“We want to place it on record that, Arik Airlines took over the majority property of former liquidated Nigerian Airways for a ridiculous amount while other landed property were shared among their friends and cronies”.