Arik loses $9m to aviation fuel scarcity

The scarcity of aviation fuel has taken a huge toll on airline operations with Arik Air declaring on Friday that it has lost an estimated $9million since last week due to disruptions in its operations.

Addressing reporters at its headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, the airline Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue, said the management has put contingency plans in place to ensure the company does not shut down its operations because of the situation.

Ndulue said the airline now flies to neighbouring countries in West and Central Africa to source for aviation fuel at a ridiculously high rate to sustain its operations.

He said Arik Air now flies to Ghana, Cameroon and Benin Republic to source for aviation fuel.

According to him, if the fuel situation does not improve the airline may not operate flights, as the alternate arrangement is costing the airline much money with the attendant inconveniences to passengers.

He said, “For over one week now, aviation fuel scarcity has impacted negatively on our flight operations. It has become very bad that we have to scale down our flights gradually. In the last one week it has become increasingly difficult to sustain our operations owing largely to scarcity of aviation fuel.

“Getting fuel to fly to our international destinations has become extremely expensive, because we have to source fuel from Kano, Cotonou , Cameroon and Accra to sustain our operations .

“Because of the huge quantity of fuel averaging about 800,000 litres needed daily for our wide body aircraft, it is becoming very difficult to operate effectively.

“If the situation does not improve in the coming days, we may not return to normal flight operations.”