Arik Airline has shut down its operation in Nigeria, as none of the airline's aircraft has been operated to any destinations in Nigeria, West Africa and other routes since early hours of Tuesday.


The massive debts of the airline to major oil marketers who regularly supply aviation fuel is partially responsible for the current situation of the airline. Also its insurers in Europe and elsewhere had withdrawn insurance cover from the airline forcing the airline to stop flight operations altogether.

A source close to the oil marketers told SaharaReporters that the airline is a bad debtor as it currently owes at least N3 billion to all its suppliers, a situation, which has made them not to supply Jet A1 to the airline.

The sordid situation may also affect the airline’s long-haul operations to Heathrow Airport in London and New York in the United States of America.