Arik Air Managing Director Resigns

[Tokunbo]

According to Nigeria's 'This Day newspaper the Managing Director and Marketing Director of Arik Air have just resigned because of irreconcilable differences between members of the airline's board. The MD has resigned because the company is being 'economical with the truth' in its claims that the CRJs are new and the Marketing Director because the son of the Chairman, Chief Joseph Arumemi-Johnson, has been imposed as his boss. Sounds like all too many fresh new starts in Nigeria, including Caverton, which start in a blaze of publicity and big spending only to come to naught because the 'big men' at the top won't allow the senior managers they've hired do their jobs. I still hope that Arik may turn out to be the one that's different, but this doesn't bode well.

Barely 72 hours to its commencement of operations, the Managing Director of Arik Air, Mr. Alex van Elk and the Director of Marketing, Mr. Johannes Lampe have resigned their appointments with immediate effect over what sources have described as irreconcilable differences between members of the airline's board.
THISDAY investigations last night revealed that the airline which is billed to commence operations on Monday, October 30, with the Lagos- Abuja route as the starting point is now embroiled in serious differences between members of the board prompting the resignation of van Elk and Lampe.
It was gathered that in the case of the Managing Director, he was uncomfortable with the claims that all the CRJ brand of aircraft in the airline's fleet are brand new.
According to insider sources, he was said to have told the Chairman of the airline, Chief Joseph Arumemi-Johnson that not all the aircraft were brand new as they are being paraded, adding that some of the CRJs were refurbished while some went for what is called 'D-check' in aviation parlance.
The Dutch chief executive of Arik Air was said to have tendered his resignation letter following the reluctance of the board to pander to his wishes.
His resignation, it was gathered, was tendered yesterday afternoon.
In the case of Lampe, his resignation was occasioned by the imposition one of the chairman's son as boss when in the real fact he is supposed to call the shots.
Efforts to speak with the Head of Communications of the airline, Mr. Gbemiga Ogunleye were futile last night as he did not pick calls from our correspondent on both MTN and Glomobile lines.

[18left]

as we in local parlance say
'wahala don shele"
one man buisness sha?????

[surely not]

No one should take any pleasure in this if it is true because it will be seen by the rest of the World as further proof that Nigerian aviation is full of flakey individuals, liars and cheats.

Incidents such as this make it harder for the good operators to keep the respect of others, for Nigerian pilots to gain acceptance of their hours, licences etc. It will be reasoned that if the heads of an airline can lie about fleet age, and fall out in such spectacular style, then best to avoid anything to do with the countries aviation scene.

So sad for all involved in Nigerian aviation.

I wonder whether Boris the Shady will now rapidly distance himself from Arik Air?

[CRJ900]

According to Nigeria's 'This Day newspaper the Managing Director and Marketing Director of Arik Air have just resigned because of irreconcilable differences between members of the airline's board. The MD has resigned because the company is being 'economical with the truth' in its claims that the CRJs are new and the Marketing Director because the son of the Chairman, Chief Joseph Arumemi-Johnson, has been imposed as his boss. Sounds like all too many fresh new starts in Nigeria, including Caverton, which start in a blaze of publicity and big spending only to come to naught because the 'big men' at the top won't allow the senior managers they've hired do their jobs. I still hope that Arik may turn out to be the one that's different, but this doesn't bode well.
Unless our NCAA the Canadian DoT and Bombarier are all lying these A/C are about as new as they can get.
Check your facts before going into print about something you clearly know nothing about.
As for the MD talk about streching the truth !!!!!!! How resign comes out of being sacked I don't know same for that other fellow that made up the dutch connection.
Arik is what it says it is and no smear campaign by disgruntled ex employees should be allowed to detract from the fine efforts being made by a lot of dedicated people Nigerian and expat alike

[Tokunbo]

The quote came from your own national daily, This Day, so maybe you should be talking to them about checking their facts.
If you know the real story about the departure of these employees, why don't you post it here?

[18left]

[quote=CRJ900]Unless our NCAA the Canadian DoT and Bombarier are all lying these A/C are about as new as they can get.
Check your facts before going into print about something you clearly know nothing about./quote]

While we are checking facts are you sure you(ARIK) are the first to bring brand new aircraft since nigeria airways?
The same NCAA you quoted knows that thats bull.......did they not register the dornier 328 with bristow who was a launch customer?Dana,mobil and aero also procured brand new aicraft so pls CRJ900 YOU CHECK YOUR FACTS AND STOP MAKING DUBIOUS CLAIMS ON NEW AIRCRAFT

[Tokunbo]

CRJ900,

Since your reply to my post, I decided to do some more investigating and have discovered some more articles which go some way to explaining things, though I've yet to see exactly why van Elk has left.

Mr. Gbemiga Ogunleye, the Head of Communications of Arik explained that the former Managing Director of the airline, Mr. Alex van Elk, was leaving for his native country, Holland, because his contract with the airline had ended.
Contrary to the impression that van Elk was leaving the airline over alleged disagreement with the state of the newly-acquired aircraft, Ogunleye told THISDAY over the telephone on Saturday that Elk contract was to lay the foundation for a solid airline and that he had successfully done this.

The Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) also has a press release on its website, dated 04/05/2006, stating that Arik Air was to buy 2 NEW CRJ 900s and three previously owned 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets, built in 2003 (which is still very new for Nigeria).

Bombardier's press release in Toronto, also stated that the airline is buying 2 brand new CRJ900, 3 used CRJ200, built in 2003 and 2 Boeing 737 built in 1990. At the same press conference van Elk is also reported as saying "With our new Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft, we are setting new standards that will change the face of the aviation industry in Nigeria and offer a totally new travel experience linking the provinces of the country with our largest cities," said Alex van Elk, Managing Director, Arik Air.

So whatever the reason for van Elk leaving, it seems that Arik is operating brand new CRJ 900s and the CRJ 200s are almost new. I was just reporting what the local press was reporting as this is, after all, a rumour network.

I wish the new airline every success when it inaugurates its flight operations tomorrow and hope that it will, at last, prove a success story in the Nigerian airline industry :ok:

[Flying Touareg]

The assumption was that all the CRJ aircrafts were brand new and not some are almost new.This was based on the impression given to the general public by the arik chairman.It is now clear that two are brand new, while three are almost brand new.

There is a rumour round town that since a particular governor who is a strong shareholder of arik has fallen out with the powers because of his presidential ambition, things are now shaky in arik.:hmm:

[Rani]

Although the said CRJ-900s were initially used as demo aircraft by the manufacturer and have attended numerous air shows around the world, there is no doubt that these aircraft can be considered "new".
Since there is no scientific or universal definition of a "new" aircraft, any of the following criteria can be considered:

1- Fleet Age (less than a year is reasonable)
2- No previous commercial operator
3- No previous C or D check
4- Airframe+engines in good condition with no prior incidents
The Arik Air CRJ-200s (which I haven't seen yet) cannot be considered as new (re above criteria), and both Mr. Arumemi-Johnson and his son should from now onward refrain from attempting to sell those CRJ-200s to the Nigerian public as "brand new" or even "new" aircraft. A new aircraft is a new aircraft, and a used aircraft is a used aircraft. In the Nigerian context, a 737-300 is a relatively new aircraft, but its not a new aircraft! There is NO Nigerian factor here, it's international-standard terminologies.
Kudos to Arik for purchasing modern "new" planes in the form of CRJ-900s. An article on Airfinancejournal.com mentioned they are negotiating with Boeing for 777, 787, and/or 747-400s. Good luck to them for tomorrow's launch, a pyramid is built one block at a time. :)

[AVSEC]

Tokunbo nice one.:D
I want Aero,VK,Arik and by our creators grace Bellview to succeed.:ok:

[fokkerfellow]

The three CRJ 900's at Arik are sn 15054 15058 and 15059 total time prior to leaving Canada on the delivery flt 23.7 hrs 28.9 hrs and 88 hrs respectivly.
The reason 59 has more time is we used it for some proving flights before taking delivery.
The three CRJ 200's are as quoted above.
The first new claim should have read " The first new JET PUBLIC TRANSPORT A/C"

[Rani]

Has Arik launched today?

[fokkerfellow]

Has Arik launched today?
Yes we did

[Rani]

You dont seam enthusiastic, for a company which planned this day for 2 years!

[LongJohnThomas]

Hahahahaha. I agree Rani, not too enthusiastic there matey, why?
Well, like with all things, we shall see if they stand the test of time, and if the powers that be don't fight over the spoils soon after the elections.:=
All i know is, for those who wish to remain in power, be it government or aviation, GOD has a way of getting rid of the 'ROTTTEN' eggs; it sometimes takes time, but he does!:D
There is a time for everything and it's just their time; for now!!!!!
The replacement of the former dictator was a divine intervention on behalf of those suffering oppression.:ok: