Aviation unions picket Arik Air over name change

Chinazor Megbolu |

Some unions in the aviation sector are set to picket an indigenous airline, Arik Air over name change.

The unions, compromising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), said they will shut down operations at the corporate headquarters of Arik Air in Lagos on September 14, 2020.

They hinted the action is connected over plans to change the name of the airline to Nigeria Eagle.

They maintained that last minute plans are ongoing to change the name of the embattled airline from Arik Air to Nigeria Eagle, which doesn’t augur well amongst staff being owed arrears of salaries.

The unions hinted that though the rebranding is expected to help the carrier attract new investors, but added the staff and various government agencies are afraid that no investor would want to do business especially with the liabilities incurred while bearing the old name.

According to them; “the reason why the company wants to change the name is to possibly attract new investors but as I speak, the fear in Arik Air is that the management may want to offload the actual financial situation when it changes the name and pitches it to investors.

“In all honesty, the situation is not clear now. We know that there are plans to change the name but the management hasn’t come out to address the issue and this lack of clarity is worsening the situation.

“Workers don’t know what to expect. What happens to the huge debt it is owing government agencies, contractors and its past and present workers?

“Unless there is more clarity about this issue, both unions may shut down operations at the airline’s corporate headquarters on Monday, September 14”.