The Chief Executive Officer, Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu has solicited sustained governmental support for the aviation industry, as many airlines struggle to survive the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ilegbodu who spoke in an interview with The NATION expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the support shown to airlines in the wake of the COVID-19 forced disruption of the aviation industry.
When responding to a question on the impact of the N5 billion stimulus package rolled out by the Federal Government, he said: “What we got was definitely not enough as we could have done with a lot more. The impact of the pandemic has been quite significant all over the world. Globally, governments have massively supported airlines, so we did expect a bit more from our government. However, we also understand that the government itself faces significant challenges from all other sectors of the economy. Therefore, we do not think of ourselves as unique.
“So, we appreciate the little we got; something little is better than nothing. I think that helped in its own little way, aiding us to surmount some of the challenges we face.”
Giving an insight into the challenges confronting the aviation industry, Ilegbodu explained that the scarcity of foreign exchange has made it difficult for airlines to maintain their aircrafts.
His words, “We have the challenge of foreign exchange – that is one big issue. The exchange rates have virtually gone up significantly by approximately 40 per cent since COVID-19 struck.You realise that our industry itself is tied to the supply from outside Nigeria.To support an aircraft with spare parts you need all sorts coming in.
“So significant sums of money are spent on maintenance, the airplane on a daily basis must be maintained. You can’t compromise maintenance of aircraft. The tyres on an airplane, some people don’t realise how much we change those tyres. You can’t use an aircraft tyre for example the way you use your car tyres till they get burst. You have to change them regularly whether they look old or not.”
