Investor Prancis nggawe maskapai anggaran ing Nigeria

The pioneer managing director of Arik Air, Alex Van Elk, has announced plans by French investors to establish a low-cost airline in Nigeria.

The pioneer managing director of Arik Air, Alex Van Elk, has announced plans by French investors to establish a low-cost airline in Nigeria.

The Dutch-born international aviator said he was already mobilising French investors for that purpose. Although he would not disclose the name of the new airline for now, he promised that it would become operational in the next ten months.

“We have made contacts with Nigerian authorities and they are quite pleased with our plans and assured us of government support” he said.

Elk stressed that the airline would succeed because it would be devoid of the mistakes associated with most Nigerian airlines, which usually lead to their early exit. He itemised such mistakes as poor revenue accounting, acquisition of aging aircraft, lack of good reservation systems and heavy cost of overheads as well as ambitious route networks.

The emerging low-cost carrier, he said, would not venture into unprofitable routes and would be run professionally with the right calibre of staff.

He also disclosed that the airline was making wide consultations with mega carriers in Europe, Asia and Africa for interlining arrangements stressing that the responses had been very encouraging.

Elk further added that the promoters, which comprised of both Nigerian and French investors, had already made contacts with aircraft manufacturing company, Airbus, for new A319 aircraft for the take-off of the new airline.

He assured that the fare would be very affordable, but noted that there would be no in-flight refreshment. “We will only serve water on board for an hour flight but for those who will want to have something extra they will have to buy”.

Elk further disclosed that his target would be to run efficient service for the first year locally and launch regional operations afterwards.

On whether the airline would operate intercontinental routes, Elk said, “We don’t have such arrangement in our plans; rather we will seek code share and interline collaborations with global carriers in Asia, Europe and Africa.”

About penulis

Avatar saka Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor ing pangareping kanggo eTurboNews adhedhasar ing eTN HQ.

Nuduhake ...