Are You in Support of the Senate Committee on Aviation’s Recommendation of Arik Air as Nigeria’s National Flag Carrier?

Following the temporary closing of Nigeria’s national flag carrier, Air Nigeria, the Senate Committee on Aviation has recommended that Arik Air be allowed to serve as Nigeria’s national flag carrier, until the Aviation Ministry is able to work out the modalities of securing another national carrier.

Arik Air currently stands as Nigeria’s leading domestic airline and is the national carrier of Niger Republic and Sierra Leone.

If the National Assembly adopts this recommendation, Arik Air will be required to display the flag of Nigeria in all its aircrafts. The Airline will also enjoy preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Hope Uzodinma presented the report of the committee’s findings yesterday.

“What we are saying is that for now let’s allow Arik to fly our flag around the world while the ministry of aviation is working out modalities of securing a new national carrier,” Channels TV quoted him as saying.

The airline is the dominant airline in the Nigerian airspace and has carried an estimated 10 million passengers since 2006 when it began operations.

Meanwhile, there are plans by the airline to go public.

What are your thoughts on the recommendation?