Arik Air resolves dispute with Bi-Courtney, begins Port Harcourt flight operations from MMA2

Arik Air Limited on Saturday began its flight operations to Port Harcourt from the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA 2), Lagos.

The move signified the end of the the over 10 years dispute between the airline and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the MMA 2.  

Speaking, Mr Murat Ozcan, Vice President, Ground Operations, Arik Air, noted that the airline was delighted to have been able to move its daily Port Harcourt flights from the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Mohammed Airport to MMA 2.

According to him, the decision to move all outbound and inbound Lagos-Port Harcourt flights to MMA2 is informed by the need to enhance passenger flying experience.

"The MMA2  offers spacious ticketing and departure experience, modern and functional escalators and lifts.

"The terminal also has automated check-in, generous waiting space, lounges, restaurants and shops.

“We are daily reviewing our operations in order to give customers value for their money and enhance their travel experience. 

"By moving some of our operations to MMA2, we are delighting customers with seamless travel,” Ozcan said. 

He said in addition to the four daily flights from Lagos to Port Harcourt International Airport,  Arik Air would also operate  one premium daily flight from MMA 2 Lagos to Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Base, Port Harcourt.

Also, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood , Chief Pilot,  Arik Air, said the passengers of the airline were guaranteed better services because of the facilities available at the MMA 2.

"As an experienced pilot who has flown to a lot of countries across the world, I can say the MMA 2 is a very standard and modern airport and Arik Air is delighted with this partnership, " he added. 

On his part, the  Chief Executive Officer of BASL, Capt. Jari Williams, assured the management of Arik Air of seamless passenger facilitation at the terminal. 

"MMA2 remains a safe, secured and efficient passenger-friendly terminal to provide exceptional services to Arik’s guests to Port Harcourt and the best destination for other flying passengers and shoppers.

" We want to assure all the passengers who will be flying Arik Air from this Saturday of seamless facilitation as we welcome all of them to our terminal," he said. 

Williams, represented by the spokesperson for BASL, Mr Steve Omolale,  said with this move Arik Air had now joined Dana, Aero, Med-View, Azman and First Nation airlines, which had been operating scheduled flights from MMA2 over the years.

The high point of the ceremony was the presentation of 15 Economy and five Business Class Tickets to the first set of passengers who checked in for the three flights scheduled for the day respectively. 

It will be recalled that in February 2008, Arik Air  was ordered to move its domestic operations to MMA 2.

However, Arik Air declined, leading to series of litigations between the airline and BASL until the recent agreement brokered by the new management of the airline appointed by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).