The Arik Airline has resumed normal flight operations at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, following the settlement of disagreement between the management of the airline and its workers.
The workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), had last Thursday, picketed the operations of Arik,for sacking 300 workers.
The Tide reliably gathered that the Arik Airline took the decision to relieve 300 workers of their duties due to its low revenue base occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.
A senior staff of the airline told our correspondent under the condition of anonymity that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the revenue profile of the airline and thus hindered it from completing heavy maintenance activities.
According to him, there was stunted revenue against the increasing operational cost, and that 50 percent of its workers have been on furlough in the past six months, on a base allowance.
However, 24 hours after its operations were shut down by the aggrieved workers, Arik resumed operations.
This followed the agreement reached between the airline and leadership of the NUATE.
The agreement has, however, not been made public as at the time of filing in this report.
Meanwhile, the Dana Airline has expressed its readiness to increase flight operations to and from Port Harcourt route, as parts of efforts to meet the travelling needs of its customers during the Yuletide season.
Communication Manager, Dana Airline, Kingsley Ezenwa, who disclosed this in a chat with The Tide at the weekend, said the increase in flight operations would commence today.
According to him, the flight will operate from Lagos to Port Harcourt, as well as Enugu and Owerri, as parts of preparations and efforts to provide operations and with schedule reliability, consistency, one-time departure and efficient service, this Christmas season.

By: Corlins Walter