Arik Air Gets Into Trouble Over Lousy Services

 

 

Over 80 passengers, who were stranded on Sunday evening at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, have threatened court action against Arik Air. The passengers, who included foreign nationals said they resolved to take this action because the Sunday’s flight of 5pm, was canceled few minutes to take off without notice and for refusing to provide accommodation for them.

One of the stranded passengers, Mr Ayo Idowu said "we have collated our names and signatures and I have instructed my lawyer to immediately initiate a legal action against Arik on behalf of all of us here...

"The flight was scheduled for 5pm. Few minutes to the scheduled time, the Calabar Branch Manager of Arik Air told us casually that the flight has been cancelled without the courtesy of explaining why...

"We tried to find out about their arrangement for our accommodation but she told us rudely that it is either we take our money back or travel by 1pm tomorrow. Do we sleep in this mosquito-infested hall till 1pm tomorrow? As you can see, we are stranded.

"For a well-structured organization, the standard thing is to provide accommodation for your passengers some of who are strangers, but here we are. This is unacceptable." Idowu, who addressed himself as media consultant, told reporters.

Speaking also, Consumer Protection Directorate (CPD) representative of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Ikanna Bassey Eyo said "the passengers are entitled to accommodation. I have tried to talk to Arik manager but she snubbed me."

 

The PRO, Mr. Banji Ola in an SMS to our reporter said "the flight was cancelled due to the absence of airfield lightening of Calabar Air Port. The air craft operating the flight was delayed out of Lagos becaue of late feeling as the fuel truck went for loading and could not return on time. By the time the fueling completed, it was latae to go to Calabar.The passengeers have been resheduled for Monday".

 

He was however, silent on the issue of accommodation and what compensation over what the passengers might have passed through.