Protest At Abuja Airport Over Arik Air flight Cancellation

There was a protest Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja (NAIA), Abuja on one of Arik Air's flights scheduled for Ilorin, the capital of Kwara state.

Protesting passengers described the incident as one cancellation of flight schedule to Ilorin airport too many.

One of the passengers, who preferred not to be identified, while speaking to THISDAY on telephone, said he is angered because he has waited for several hours at the airport only to face cancellation of flight by Arik Air.

Sources at the airport said the travellers became infuriated when the airline announced that its second flight to Ilorin had been cancelled.

One of the passengers said: “The only way to make our position known is through this mild demonstration and mild protest to send the right signal to the airline management and government.”

Arik spokesman Mr. Banji Ola, however explained that the incident in which a domestic carrier veered off the runway Saturday prompted the control tower to direct the carrier to cancel the flight.