Payday at Arik Air
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Lufthansa has given them until the 15th... or no more engineers.
No catering and no cleaning on the London flights. Wow! I can only imagine what a filthy mess that was. The catering in London is ONE YEAR behind on payments.
Pilots still not paid. Pilot meeting tonight.
No catering and no cleaning on the London flights. Wow! I can only imagine what a filthy mess that was. The catering in London is ONE YEAR behind on payments.
Pilots still not paid. Pilot meeting tonight.
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Word from the pilot meeting is:
1. No plans to pay you on time. Didn't even offer some typical rubbish lies.
2. A330 pilots / cabin crew are in fact paid on time, because they are on a London contract. So is every other expat, of course. Those "bad" expats with London contracts operating Q400, CRJ, and B737 fleets will continue to be paid late; very late. Or maybe never, which is bound to happen if things don't turn around soon.
3. Arik may lose the London Heathrow gates from BA for the usual Arik reasons; Late, later, and cancelled. And probably not paid for.
4. Arik has added 2 additional levels of service beyond Late, Later, and Cancelled... filthy and hungry. That's right; to London and back, no cleaning, no catering. Unpaid catering in London. But, passengers were welcome to feast on the leftover catering that started in Lagos.
5. Things are in such disarray that the COO (3 months on the job) is chasing about for tires. Yes, that's at least part of what he spends his day doing. Very productive.
6. The new COO made mention of the plane jacked up in the hangar with no tires... didn't mention how many are currently cannibalized for parts.
7. Did I mention you won't be paid on time? A330 pilots... changes are about... he mentioned how your contracts were "wrong", but they're fixing them. Unilaterally, I'm sure. It was asked if that meant if those pilots would also now be paid late to "harmonize" with other pilot's late pay. No comment.
8. If you think a lot of folks left in August, let me just suggest that Sept will be a new record. To say the pilots weren't impressed with what the future is at Arik would be an understatement. I'll guess a full 10% pilot workforce loss as soon as paycheques arrive.
9. One non-expat crew will be sent this year for the A330.
10. Yes, pilots were told us that exactly one year ago.
11. Yes, they went to class in Jan 2010... for about 8 days, and then the Arik crews were sent home to be replaced with new hire expats. I'm sure that won't happen (note: new A330 manager will make sure it happens. His cronies are ready for 15/15 and regular paycheques).
12. New COO, at the end of meeting, made references to him "walking right out that door" if things didn't improve. So did Jason Holt. He lasted 6 months. I'm not confident this guy will go that long.
13. Like the week previous, acting MD Chris couldn't be bothered to show up. Or any of the other big wigs. Clearly, pilots are not that important.
14. New COO made a closing comment, "The Emirates of Africa", which got a LOT of snickers, and open laughing. What a clueless loon.
15. As crazy as Nigerian Airways was, the pilots were always paid on time. Something to consider when we predict how much longer this charade of an airline shall continue.
16. New competition is moving in (4 A320's so far) to swoop up all the upset customers who would never fly Arik if given a choice.
17. Staff in London are ALL paid on time. Every time. You won't be though.
18. No word on the actual implementation of an expat 30/30 rotation.
19. Frequent sprinkling of the words like, "330, 340, 380, 777, 999, 123245323" to which pilots are supposed to drop their jaws in awe. It doesn't work anymore. He did mention those all being pushed back to 2013 or 2014, which means in the Queen's english, "We're so broke, we can't afford to cancel the orders."
20. No, you won't be paid on time.
21. Did I mention, you won't be paid on time?
1. No plans to pay you on time. Didn't even offer some typical rubbish lies.
2. A330 pilots / cabin crew are in fact paid on time, because they are on a London contract. So is every other expat, of course. Those "bad" expats with London contracts operating Q400, CRJ, and B737 fleets will continue to be paid late; very late. Or maybe never, which is bound to happen if things don't turn around soon.
3. Arik may lose the London Heathrow gates from BA for the usual Arik reasons; Late, later, and cancelled. And probably not paid for.
4. Arik has added 2 additional levels of service beyond Late, Later, and Cancelled... filthy and hungry. That's right; to London and back, no cleaning, no catering. Unpaid catering in London. But, passengers were welcome to feast on the leftover catering that started in Lagos.
5. Things are in such disarray that the COO (3 months on the job) is chasing about for tires. Yes, that's at least part of what he spends his day doing. Very productive.
6. The new COO made mention of the plane jacked up in the hangar with no tires... didn't mention how many are currently cannibalized for parts.
7. Did I mention you won't be paid on time? A330 pilots... changes are about... he mentioned how your contracts were "wrong", but they're fixing them. Unilaterally, I'm sure. It was asked if that meant if those pilots would also now be paid late to "harmonize" with other pilot's late pay. No comment.
8. If you think a lot of folks left in August, let me just suggest that Sept will be a new record. To say the pilots weren't impressed with what the future is at Arik would be an understatement. I'll guess a full 10% pilot workforce loss as soon as paycheques arrive.
9. One non-expat crew will be sent this year for the A330.
10. Yes, pilots were told us that exactly one year ago.
11. Yes, they went to class in Jan 2010... for about 8 days, and then the Arik crews were sent home to be replaced with new hire expats. I'm sure that won't happen (note: new A330 manager will make sure it happens. His cronies are ready for 15/15 and regular paycheques).
12. New COO, at the end of meeting, made references to him "walking right out that door" if things didn't improve. So did Jason Holt. He lasted 6 months. I'm not confident this guy will go that long.
13. Like the week previous, acting MD Chris couldn't be bothered to show up. Or any of the other big wigs. Clearly, pilots are not that important.
14. New COO made a closing comment, "The Emirates of Africa", which got a LOT of snickers, and open laughing. What a clueless loon.
15. As crazy as Nigerian Airways was, the pilots were always paid on time. Something to consider when we predict how much longer this charade of an airline shall continue.
16. New competition is moving in (4 A320's so far) to swoop up all the upset customers who would never fly Arik if given a choice.
17. Staff in London are ALL paid on time. Every time. You won't be though.
18. No word on the actual implementation of an expat 30/30 rotation.
19. Frequent sprinkling of the words like, "330, 340, 380, 777, 999, 123245323" to which pilots are supposed to drop their jaws in awe. It doesn't work anymore. He did mention those all being pushed back to 2013 or 2014, which means in the Queen's english, "We're so broke, we can't afford to cancel the orders."
20. No, you won't be paid on time.
21. Did I mention, you won't be paid on time?
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regarding the 30/30 skds, I am supposed to come over on the CRJ in the next 2 or 3 weeks (assuming the company still exsists) and they have given me a contract with that skd. However, i dont think I will be there long, as I dont work for free. If pay dont come on pay day, I hop on DL and go home.
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However, i dont think I will be there long, as I dont work for free. If pay dont come on pay day, I hop on DL and go home.
Honestly, they are telling us up front, "YOU WON'T BE PAID ON TIME".
Not even in the planning. Well, unless you're staff in London, or A330 pilots.
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regarding the 30/30 skds, I am supposed to come over on the CRJ in the next 2 or 3 weeks (assuming the company still exsists) and they have given me a contract with that skd. However, i dont think I will be there long, as I dont work for free. If pay dont come on pay day, I hop on DL and go home.
Save yourself some money and book a roundtrip ticket. (Factor in the cost of 1 month's unpaid salary and you could probably have flown business class)
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Impending Arik Air Shutdown
This company is VERY close to another shutdown for lack of payment.
1.Lufthansa must be paid in the next four days, or they stop.
2.Navtech, the chart providers, are on a similar deadline.
3.Lack of basic bits, like tires, threaten to limit service. But the above two will shut it down, much like NAMA did on 1 Sept 2010.
4.Pilots need to be paid for services rendered since 1 Aug 2010.
So... who do you think will get paid? I vote for charts, tires and maintenance and other "no-go" items. I am not including the extremely long list of other products/services owed that may not stop airplanes, but just provide the usual Late, Later, Cancelled, Hungry or Filthy flight. Those things will be still owed next month, if they are still operating.
They already KNOW that many / most pilots will keep on working without pay. The London office has been rung up several times today enquiring as to the status of pay. There has not been any order by the top managers to pay the pilots as of about one hour ago, according to those who dispense the pay.
The COO suggested at the Sat. pilot meeting that the money was "already allocated" this past week, and would be in your banks Monday or Tuesday, "at the latest". Like virtually everything they say, it's a lie.
Fellow pilots, if you don't have an escape plan now, get on the phone today with somebody and make a plan.
1.Lufthansa must be paid in the next four days, or they stop.
2.Navtech, the chart providers, are on a similar deadline.
3.Lack of basic bits, like tires, threaten to limit service. But the above two will shut it down, much like NAMA did on 1 Sept 2010.
4.Pilots need to be paid for services rendered since 1 Aug 2010.
So... who do you think will get paid? I vote for charts, tires and maintenance and other "no-go" items. I am not including the extremely long list of other products/services owed that may not stop airplanes, but just provide the usual Late, Later, Cancelled, Hungry or Filthy flight. Those things will be still owed next month, if they are still operating.
They already KNOW that many / most pilots will keep on working without pay. The London office has been rung up several times today enquiring as to the status of pay. There has not been any order by the top managers to pay the pilots as of about one hour ago, according to those who dispense the pay.
The COO suggested at the Sat. pilot meeting that the money was "already allocated" this past week, and would be in your banks Monday or Tuesday, "at the latest". Like virtually everything they say, it's a lie.
Fellow pilots, if you don't have an escape plan now, get on the phone today with somebody and make a plan.
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How Long Can Arik Keep Going?
What a mess...
Does anyone know if W3 can get access to the FG Bank loans for manufacturing and aviation?
Or are they excluded as Rockson /AJ were named as loan defaulters to Union Bank by the CBN last year?
Where do Hi Fly sit in all this ... do they threaten to stop flying the A340's when both are down route in order to get paid?
I see AJ is now blaming the AON for not supporting W3 over the NAMA charges.
Will W3 last until Christmas?
I still think they will go down in the new year to be taken over by VK with aircraft / routes incorporated after GJ wins the Presidential election. The losers being suppliers, employees and AJ losing the metal but keeping the 'fresh cash' Any other theories?
Does anyone know if W3 can get access to the FG Bank loans for manufacturing and aviation?
Or are they excluded as Rockson /AJ were named as loan defaulters to Union Bank by the CBN last year?
Where do Hi Fly sit in all this ... do they threaten to stop flying the A340's when both are down route in order to get paid?
I see AJ is now blaming the AON for not supporting W3 over the NAMA charges.
Will W3 last until Christmas?
I still think they will go down in the new year to be taken over by VK with aircraft / routes incorporated after GJ wins the Presidential election. The losers being suppliers, employees and AJ losing the metal but keeping the 'fresh cash' Any other theories?
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Consistency....
You have to give them credit. They are very consistent in their response to any and all negative press. Deny, deny, deny, deny! I like their style!
I'm going to adopt the same approach with my bill collectors, and see how it works. Stayed tuned for the results.
I'm going to adopt the same approach with my bill collectors, and see how it works. Stayed tuned for the results.
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ASKY looking for Q400 pilots?
Just flew ASKY yesterday on their ET Q400 and staff mentioned that ASKY is looking for their own Q400 crew. Maybe this is an opportunity for ARIK pilots to jump ship.
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Shame Shame Shame
You guys seem to enjoy playing the "wait to see when the salaries will be paid this month game".
The world is waiting for guys with your experience grow some ba**s and make the move asap.
The world is waiting for guys with your experience grow some ba**s and make the move asap.
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Where do Hi Fly sit in all this ... do they threaten to stop flying the A340's when both are down route in order to get paid?
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Barely a week after it was grounded by the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for refusing to pay terminal navigational charges, Arik Air is now at loggerhead with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over series of dud cheques the airlines allegedly issued last month.
Documents obtained by our correspondent show that Arik Air paid over N21 million through cheques to NCAA in the month of August 2010 but all of them were dishonoured.
The cheques with numbers 00001143, 00001148, 00001135, 00001145 and 00001144 were to be cashed by NCAA at Intercontinental Bank.
The action has created some frictions between the airline and the agency with NCAA sending a warning letter to Arik Air.
NCAA has urged the airline to immediately replace the dud cheques with certified bank drafts.
“Also in view of this development, we wish to request that henceforth, all subsequent payments to us should be made via certified bank drafts,” the agency said in a letter obtained by P.M.NEWS.
But, Arik Air’s media officer, Mr. Banji Ola, yesterday told our correspondent on telephone that Arik Air did not issue dud cheques to NCAA.
He said: “We did not and have never issued dude cheques to NCAA.”
Several media reports have suggested that Arik Air is heavily indebted and might soon go under, but the airline has repeatedly denied that it is broke.
Reports have suggested that Arik Air owes several billions of naira to banks and aviation agencies.
The airline has excoriated NAMA over the ‘pay as you go’ mode of payment it introduced on 1 September 2010.
The mode of payment compels heavily indebted airlines to pay terminal navigational charges before their planes can be cleared to fly.
Before the action, Nigerian carriers had accumulated millions of debts over the years which they were unable to clear.
Although Air Nigeria, Dana Air, Aero Contractors, Chanchangi, IRS, Bristow and Associated Airlines, some of Arik’s competitors and members of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) made payments to NAMA and were allowed to fly undisturbed, Arik Air refused to pay and was unable to fly its 120 flights that day.
The airline was only allowed to fly after it paid N50 million to NAMA.
—Simon Ateba
Documents obtained by our correspondent show that Arik Air paid over N21 million through cheques to NCAA in the month of August 2010 but all of them were dishonoured.
The cheques with numbers 00001143, 00001148, 00001135, 00001145 and 00001144 were to be cashed by NCAA at Intercontinental Bank.
The action has created some frictions between the airline and the agency with NCAA sending a warning letter to Arik Air.
NCAA has urged the airline to immediately replace the dud cheques with certified bank drafts.
“Also in view of this development, we wish to request that henceforth, all subsequent payments to us should be made via certified bank drafts,” the agency said in a letter obtained by P.M.NEWS.
But, Arik Air’s media officer, Mr. Banji Ola, yesterday told our correspondent on telephone that Arik Air did not issue dud cheques to NCAA.
He said: “We did not and have never issued dude cheques to NCAA.”
Several media reports have suggested that Arik Air is heavily indebted and might soon go under, but the airline has repeatedly denied that it is broke.
Reports have suggested that Arik Air owes several billions of naira to banks and aviation agencies.
The airline has excoriated NAMA over the ‘pay as you go’ mode of payment it introduced on 1 September 2010.
The mode of payment compels heavily indebted airlines to pay terminal navigational charges before their planes can be cleared to fly.
Before the action, Nigerian carriers had accumulated millions of debts over the years which they were unable to clear.
Although Air Nigeria, Dana Air, Aero Contractors, Chanchangi, IRS, Bristow and Associated Airlines, some of Arik’s competitors and members of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) made payments to NAMA and were allowed to fly undisturbed, Arik Air refused to pay and was unable to fly its 120 flights that day.
The airline was only allowed to fly after it paid N50 million to NAMA.
—Simon Ateba
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This guy is funny:
In today's Punch, 13 Sep 2010:
"We pay our charges as at when due. We don't owe."
What was that guy in Baghdad during the Iraq war? Baghdad Bob !!! The misinformation minister, Mohammed Saïd al-Sahaf:
"We killed a number of their mercenaries, and the rest flew like rats"
"They are not even 100 miles, they are not in any place"
YouTube - Mohammed Saïd al-Sahaf
But, Arik Air’s media officer, Mr. Banji Ola, yesterday told our correspondent on telephone that Arik Air did not issue dud cheques to NCAA.
He said: “We did not and have never issued dude cheques to NCAA.”
He said: “We did not and have never issued dude cheques to NCAA.”
"We pay our charges as at when due. We don't owe."
What was that guy in Baghdad during the Iraq war? Baghdad Bob !!! The misinformation minister, Mohammed Saïd al-Sahaf:
"We killed a number of their mercenaries, and the rest flew like rats"
"They are not even 100 miles, they are not in any place"
YouTube - Mohammed Saïd al-Sahaf
Last edited by Oba1kanobe; 14th Sep 2010 at 10:09.