http://odili.net/news/source/2012/mar/6/504.html
Fuel scarcity: Passengers stranded as Arik Air cancels US flight
…Passenger causes pandemonium at airport
By UCHE USIM
Tuesday, March 06, 2012


•Passengers at the airport
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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The persistent scarcity of aviation fuel (Jet A1) has taken its toll on the domestic airlines as many of them have been forced to continually cancel both local and international flights.

Arik Air, which has been severely hit by the scarcity, yesterday, cancelled its Lagos- New York flight, a development that shocked scores of passengers who had hitherto checked-in, waiting to board.

Expectedly, some of the passengers went wild at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, as they almost mobbed the airline’s crew for what they described as a most jolting development. The passengers include students, old people and sick people who were going to the USA for various important programmes.
“Why didn’t they tell us on time via SMS that the flight would not operate? Why will they wait until we’ve checked-in before giving us the bad news. Some of us came from other states to board this flight and what do we do now? What of our connecting flights already booked and paid for. They said we should check on Wednesday, not even tomorrow (Tuesday). What sort of thing is this?”, a passenger who identified himself as Gbenga lamented.

Reacting, a source from the airline said the Jet A1 scarcity had reached an alarming level where virtually all domestic airlines had exhausted their reserves.
“This scarcity has been going for over a week now and we have tried to address it but to no avail. The oil marketers I learnt are not importing and the matter is serious. We’ve been forced to combine flights on the domestic scene but internationally, the story is severe. It’s really bad for us now,” she said.
At the domestic terminal, virtually all the airlines’ check-in counters had long queues, an indication that most of the flights were being combined as a way of maximising yield and reducing operational costs.
Daily Sun learnt that the scarcity was connected with the same shortage of petrol which sprang from oil marketers’ inability to import petroleum products.

A domestic airline managing director said operators would be forced to jerk up airfares if the scarcity continued.
In another development, an unidentified man yesterday caused pandemonium at the MMIA when he went berserk at the departure lounge of the airport.
The man who breached airport security protocol said his “madness” was as a result of his being duped about $4,000 (N640,000). To people’s amazement, he threatened to kill passengers and flight crew members on ground.

As he roared like a lion, airport security officials, including anti-bomb and anti-terrorism personnel of the police grabbed him. He was said to have gained entrance via an unmanned point at the E-Wing of departure section, very close to Virgin Atlantic boarding point. He was later taken to the Airport Police Command for questioning.

Offtopic:The security at the airport is a joke. . .like everywhere else.

Did anyone say that dude is mad?I think not.

Arik should start paying their bills -

So passengers checked in before they realised their was no fuel?

Exactly the same thing happened to me on a recent Arik flight - same excuses.

And as described above, Nigerian passengers always go crazy - some were on the verge of lynching the pilot.

Arik Air is a terrible Airline, with unsafe planes, poor customer service and who's days are numbered.

^^^ Arik the best? U must be a joker.

Their customer relations is very bad couple with flight cancellation. My brother going to sokoto for nysc camp boarded arik from lagos yesterday. The connecting flight in abuja was first shifted from 9am to 5pm and was later cancelled. And wednesday flight was dicey. No apology, no concerns. Camp closes today. They were left on their own. With some other friends they pair up to pay for hotel rooms and are now on their way to sokoto by road. Really unfair i would say

The Nigerian economy is facing a lot of shaking; petrol is scarce, JET-A1 too is now scarce.

Exactly the same thing happened to me on a recent Arik flight - same excuses.

And as described above, Nigerian passengers always go crazy - some were on the verge of lynching the pilot.[img]http://www.lzxin.info/g.gif[/img]

Meanwhile Some peeps on this site would sing Ariks Praises

I dont get it. Is this how international carriers operate??

I am sorry but there is no way that the scarcity of fuel is the cause here.

More like its too expensive,

Even when aviation fuel no cost nko? As Arik ever been better?

Arik is the worst airline ever. This was the same rubbish they did to me last week. Flight from WARRI to LOS for 9.15am was postponed to 12.30pm. We already checked in and was waiting to board at 1.30pm! when the lady announced that the flight has been canceled in a cool and non-remorseful voice. As there was no more flight from Warri that day, most of us had to hire a car from the airport to Benin airport and pay for another flight.

Its time they are made to take responsibility for their nonsense.

These oil importers want to show us that they dictate the song of fuel availability in Nigeria even though the probe is still on. I know we will win them.

spicyhoney:

^^^ Arik the best? U must be a joker.

name the best in their world then? kabo or air nigeria?
as much as they mess up, they still seem to be the best in Nigeria in terms of class of service besides the new first nation airline which has not been put to test of time(they also canceled a flight last week fri), average customer service too.

Poor show by Arik. No excuses.

While all the blame should not go to Arik, alot resided in their power to have changed  - not only Arik but the other airlines -Aero/Air Nigeria.

For one, in a bussiness like air transportation proactivity is utmost as it affects travel plans ( connecting flights/appointements) - the signs of the impending fuel scarcity has been with us since the marketers discovered less money will be coming into their coffers with the decision to remove the subsidy juice.
What alternative plans do/did any of these  airlines have in place in the event of experienced scarcity?
[list]
[li] Why wait till check-in to inform international passengers? Smirk of mischief.  Perhaps the optimisim of hoping to get the product from an unscheduled source while keeping hold of the customer?  [b][/b]

Matters have come to a head as regards the poor infrastructure bedevilling the air/road transportation in Nigeria. Every day from one apology to the other because of absent fundamentals. The problem is a cascading at the moment - because we can't refine enough we import. Because we import a large dose of what we need we are left at the mercy of the importers, so when they sneeze everything gets grounded for lack of an alternative.

seconded odiaero post is not easy to set up an airline in this kind of nigeria government.

tunde1200:

seconded odiaero post is not easy to set up an airline in this kind of nigeria government.

More like Nigerian environment. I quite agree it is dauning to do business in a clime where operators are subject to changing govt. policies at will. It is also true that the effiiciency of the airlines will improve if the basic infrastucture is there, but what is not excusable is for an operatot to allow a passenger(international /local) travel to the airport check-in and piror to boarding cancel a flight. The working/bussiness environment is challenging and of you as an operator has agreed to do bussiness then you must be proactive in dealing with the short-comings of the system. No be kalokalo bussiness dem dey run na Airline! And as such shouldn't be subject to the dictates of ''if we get, we fly -if not, we just tell una sorry'' . It is hurting people on a daily basis and one day when one person no fit control himself e go do the unthinkable. Internationally scheduled flights should be ascertainable 72hrs( fuel for plane/take off gates/check-in counters cum screens etc) before take off so that in the event of such aviation fuel challenges a refund could be made to the passenger in time to make alternative arrangements for their travel.

Yet ds s the same country dat is claming gra-gra with south Africa. We get Crude öil,yet no common kerosene(JET 1) fuel. And SA dnt have enuf crude oh. Giant of Africa my foöt.

Can't this country rest for just six months without crisis.

odiaero:

If u think Arik Air is the worst Airline, why not register ur own airline, or better buy ur own private jet, if u cant afford that, then fly other airlines, if u cant fly other airlines, then take a bus, if u cant take a bus, then trek, if u cant trek, then shut da bleep up

bros take am easy ooh,though u hv a point.
d only problem is tht ARIK ought to hv notify d passengers hours b4.

u dey mind dem

wait till iweala beaf comes to spew rubbish, Abuja hunters Association of Nigeria
incompetent government

Fresh air !!!!!!!!!!! let's see how the air we breath soon become scarce in nigeria.

jethro2:

Their customer relations is very bad couple with flight cancellation. My brother going to sokoto for nysc camp boarded arik from lagos yesterday. The connecting flight in abuja was first shifted from 9am to 5pm and was later cancelled. And wednesday flight was dicey. No apology, no concerns. Camp closes today. They were left on their own. With some other friends they pair up to pay for hotel rooms and are now on their way to sokoto by road. Really unfair i would say

Sorry to be off-topic, but Guy you get mind o! So you allow your brother make Im go serve for North? I recently told my younger sister, that if she had been posted to any part of the North that I would tear the posting letter. Safe to your bro, u get mind o!

United/Continental Airlines - Lagos- US route was cancelled last week after they had checked in all their customers. They had opened the door for boarding, before they cancelled the flight because they could get not jet fuel.

This is the most absurd excuse I have ever heard from an International airliner who has already checked its passengers in. In-fact, this makes no sense to foreigners when they read something like this

This Arik Management has bitten more than they can chew.
Good example of a Nigerian business dream Can't he franchise the business or go public Greedy businessman
Imagine there are more than 50 top flight local businesses like this, from Printing, QSR, banks, investment mgt, services etc. poor leadership, cheap management, small vision, low capital, always flying from lagos to overseas with concubines . They drive the best of cars QX86 etc and do bunga bunga whereas they can not sustain their wealth and create some for the next generation. They are seen in traffic with tinted glasses, in front at owambe and last to leave the beer parlour

Arik has simply failed! They led us into the SA war now its USA.

Arik has simply refused to change.Always treating customers like crap

Arik get problem jo, I almost miss my flight frm ng to uk, we were normally suppose to board frm abj to london but they redirect us to lag and delay 4hrs before finally boarding