Arik Air
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jankara
Age: 64
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Well, their website is still offline, so they're either adding all the new routes or, as Rani says, they haven't paid the bill to their Ghanian IT company - not a good sign at this time.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: FL400
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As I said before, I have nothing to do with Arik, but after the great amount of money they've spent buying those aircraft, not paying the bill for their website does not make any sense. It has been online/offline every now and then.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jankara
Age: 64
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MD12,
I too have nothing to do with Arik except as a prospective user of their services from Port Harcourt. I have not seen their website offline before, and with all the money they've obviously spent, I'm not greatly filled with confidence as to the quality of their supposedly premium services when they can't keep their server on line. It's now been off for at least 2 days. Maybe they think that with a captive audience in Port Harcourt, we'll have no option but to use their services if and when they start, but once they do come in, they may find that Aero also wake up and they'll have some competition. I hope so, because I've not been impressed with the way Aero has steadfastly refused to offer a scheduled service on this route except to its big oil company elite, despite having the right to operate into NAF Base. Maybe they will learn that what goes around comes around. I've always been been impressed with their aircraft and safety, but also thought as others have mentioned, that their customer handling in their terminals is the same as any second-rate Nigerian airline.
I too have nothing to do with Arik except as a prospective user of their services from Port Harcourt. I have not seen their website offline before, and with all the money they've obviously spent, I'm not greatly filled with confidence as to the quality of their supposedly premium services when they can't keep their server on line. It's now been off for at least 2 days. Maybe they think that with a captive audience in Port Harcourt, we'll have no option but to use their services if and when they start, but once they do come in, they may find that Aero also wake up and they'll have some competition. I hope so, because I've not been impressed with the way Aero has steadfastly refused to offer a scheduled service on this route except to its big oil company elite, despite having the right to operate into NAF Base. Maybe they will learn that what goes around comes around. I've always been been impressed with their aircraft and safety, but also thought as others have mentioned, that their customer handling in their terminals is the same as any second-rate Nigerian airline.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jankara
Age: 64
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Thanks MD. Disappointed they have no announcements about the Dash 8 service to PH. Hopefully that's because they want to make sure they have everything in place and ready to go before they start advertising. I guess that either somebody forgot to pay the bill, or it was paid and the recipient didn't notice 
. Look forward to seeing the Dash in Arik colours landing in PH (once the Harmattan lifts).
. Look forward to seeing the Dash in Arik colours landing in PH (once the Harmattan lifts).
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: taxiway alfa
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P.H. airport, Arik and the rest
I had this post on the Port-harcourt appt. issues thread. I am putting it here cos i need answers from thosr who know more than I do.
My Question is how long has this airport been closed and for how much more time will it be closed. How long does it takes to fix a fence and a runway.
Does it not occur to anyone how much revenue the airlines and Government are losing by having the field closed.
Finally, its 2007, do they not realise that you can resurface a runway in sections at night and reopen the airport during the day. How about temporarily displacing the runway to allow planes with shorter landing distances in during construction.
These are just questions. Maybe someone know's something I don't. I'm willing to get other peoples thoughts, Cos the day we Nigerians start thinkng outside the box, and get intelligent people incharge, is the day progress starts. Until then, more of the same.
My Question is how long has this airport been closed and for how much more time will it be closed. How long does it takes to fix a fence and a runway.
Does it not occur to anyone how much revenue the airlines and Government are losing by having the field closed.
Finally, its 2007, do they not realise that you can resurface a runway in sections at night and reopen the airport during the day. How about temporarily displacing the runway to allow planes with shorter landing distances in during construction.
These are just questions. Maybe someone know's something I don't. I'm willing to get other peoples thoughts, Cos the day we Nigerians start thinkng outside the box, and get intelligent people incharge, is the day progress starts. Until then, more of the same.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Okrika
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bdwa,
The airport's been closed for 5 months now. You obviously haven't been home for a while have you? Intelligent people in charge?
Fani "yab them all" Kayode is in charge so what could possibly be wrong with aviation in Nigeria now 
?
The airport's been closed for 5 months now. You obviously haven't been home for a while have you? Intelligent people in charge?
Fani "yab them all" Kayode is in charge so what could possibly be wrong with aviation in Nigeria now ?
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Onigbongbo
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Community
I wonder if JB are having any "Community Problems" down in PH.
Any company doing anything in PH or Delta areas has to pay considerable "Community Fees". Building a fence round an airport in Nigeria is not a straightforward thing. Julius Berger will no doubt be reminded on more than one occasion that they are building a fence or re-surfacing a runway that was once someone's farm land. And therefore they must pay.
Communities also require contractors to hire people from the communities in the areas they are working in. Although the people they hire are not supposed to do any work, they just collect a salary (nice work if you can get it !). CNPC (China National Petroleum Coorporation) were doing some sizemic work in PH area, they had 4 small dinghies, with about 7 personnel in each boat. They had over 600 personnel on their payrole, 593 of which were from the local communites and who never did anything for CNPC or Nigeria for that matter !!!
I remember having to pay a bribe to the guy driving the fuel bowzer at PH in order to get my aircraft re-fueled. Thinking he was bluffing, I refused to pay, and he simply stopped re-fueling. An hour later he still had not commenced the fueling, all because this airport was built on his grand-father's farm. Eventually we paid him something, but the delay ment we ended up staying in the Airport Hotel for the night - very nice !!
Any company doing anything in PH or Delta areas has to pay considerable "Community Fees". Building a fence round an airport in Nigeria is not a straightforward thing. Julius Berger will no doubt be reminded on more than one occasion that they are building a fence or re-surfacing a runway that was once someone's farm land. And therefore they must pay.
Communities also require contractors to hire people from the communities in the areas they are working in. Although the people they hire are not supposed to do any work, they just collect a salary (nice work if you can get it !). CNPC (China National Petroleum Coorporation) were doing some sizemic work in PH area, they had 4 small dinghies, with about 7 personnel in each boat. They had over 600 personnel on their payrole, 593 of which were from the local communites and who never did anything for CNPC or Nigeria for that matter !!!
I remember having to pay a bribe to the guy driving the fuel bowzer at PH in order to get my aircraft re-fueled. Thinking he was bluffing, I refused to pay, and he simply stopped re-fueling. An hour later he still had not commenced the fueling, all because this airport was built on his grand-father's farm. Eventually we paid him something, but the delay ment we ended up staying in the Airport Hotel for the night - very nice !!
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Whitehaven Beach
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Community sabotage - fantastic. Can't wait to hear some "yab" from F.Kayode about this? He'll probably blame some juju witch down in Aba, claiming the project is "cursed"! How about paying the damn mobilization fee ? Nah, too busy slapping LH executives 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: In the Haven of Peace
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Arik's First Flight To Naf Base
Meanwhile, back to Arik Air 
:-
Their newly-leased Dash 8 visited NAF Base, Port Harcourt today - and very fine it looked too
. Their ramp area is now linked to the runway, carpark nearly finished and the terminal building looks close to being finished. Their new LOS - PH service must be imminent and it will be very welcome to many who hate the drive to Owerri in the early hours of the morning, followed by the rugby scrum (=passenger check-in) at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo airport 
. For those who arrive back refreshed from leave, or those frazzled after a day's business in Lagos, it will be very nice to have a nice check-in at Lagos and to be arriving in the centre of Port Harcourt after an hour's flight 
.
I hope they will prove one of the exceptions to the rule, and offer an efficient, courteous and (above all) safe service. If they do, they will deserve the success this new route will bring to them.
:- Their newly-leased Dash 8 visited NAF Base, Port Harcourt today - and very fine it looked too
. Their ramp area is now linked to the runway, carpark nearly finished and the terminal building looks close to being finished. Their new LOS - PH service must be imminent and it will be very welcome to many who hate the drive to Owerri in the early hours of the morning, followed by the rugby scrum (=passenger check-in) at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo airport . For those who arrive back refreshed from leave, or those frazzled after a day's business in Lagos, it will be very nice to have a nice check-in at Lagos and to be arriving in the centre of Port Harcourt after an hour's flight .I hope they will prove one of the exceptions to the rule, and offer an efficient, courteous and (above all) safe service. If they do, they will deserve the success this new route will bring to them.
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Arik must remember to publicise extensively, any local staff employed in the area, to survive in those neck of the woods.
PHC notoriouse for organized extortion,and sabotage.One of the many reasons we are not there.
Good news though innit?
getting to be experts in car bombs so watch that car park.Great place to lob mortars if you get my drift.
Arik is going to make a mint from this.Its good they have invested in security,much better thanAero who are more vulnerable.
PHC notoriouse for organized extortion,and sabotage.One of the many reasons we are not there.
Good news though innit?
getting to be experts in car bombs so watch that car park.Great place to lob mortars if you get my drift.
Arik is going to make a mint from this.Its good they have invested in security,much better thanAero who are more vulnerable.
The owner of Arik Air Mr Joe Johnson's private aircraft was impounded in the UK last night by the manufacturer due to non payments.....
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Afrika sometimes
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Arik and Security
AVSEC,
As a security consultant don't you think it's rather irresponsible to even be mentioning mortars or car bombs in Arik's car park? The two, anyway, are entirely different. MEND and other militant forces in the Niger Delta have not hitherto made use of mortars (that I'm aware of) and were they to do so, it would seem more likely they would use them on the ramp area or runway (or against the Nigerian Air Force). What organised extortion and sabotage are you referring to at the NAF Base, Port Harcourt (I take it you are aware that it's at NAF, Arik is about to start operating)? I'm sure that in these troubled times, Arik have done their homework on security just as they have on purchasing and leasing aircraft. After all, security will be just one of the ways of protecting their valuable new asets
Why do you say that Arik has invested in security and that Aero have not? Arik's terminal is still not open, so it remains to be seen what level of security they will have at NAF Base. Aero's security there seems to be rather good, with luggage scanners monitored by CCTV, CCTV in the terminal, passenger screening machinery, MOPOL and Air Force security at the entrance to NAF Base and a full-time security adviser (ex SSS) on site in Port Harcourt and another new security consultant (with many years in-country experience) having been employed from an internationally reknowned and respected security company. What point are you trying to make, except that you are not employed as a security consultant by Aero?
As a security consultant don't you think it's rather irresponsible to even be mentioning mortars or car bombs in Arik's car park? The two, anyway, are entirely different. MEND and other militant forces in the Niger Delta have not hitherto made use of mortars (that I'm aware of) and were they to do so, it would seem more likely they would use them on the ramp area or runway (or against the Nigerian Air Force). What organised extortion and sabotage are you referring to at the NAF Base, Port Harcourt (I take it you are aware that it's at NAF, Arik is about to start operating)? I'm sure that in these troubled times, Arik have done their homework on security just as they have on purchasing and leasing aircraft. After all, security will be just one of the ways of protecting their valuable new asets
Why do you say that Arik has invested in security and that Aero have not? Arik's terminal is still not open, so it remains to be seen what level of security they will have at NAF Base. Aero's security there seems to be rather good, with luggage scanners monitored by CCTV, CCTV in the terminal, passenger screening machinery, MOPOL and Air Force security at the entrance to NAF Base and a full-time security adviser (ex SSS) on site in Port Harcourt and another new security consultant (with many years in-country experience) having been employed from an internationally reknowned and respected security company. What point are you trying to make, except that you are not employed as a security consultant by Aero?
Last edited by TomBola; 28th Jan 2007 at 20:47.