vagabond

From Seattle Times:

In a blow to Boeing's order book, West African airline Arik Air has ceased operations indefinitely amid chaos in Nigeria's aviation sector.

The Associated Press reported that Arik Air cancelled its flights Thursday after men rampaged through its maintenance hangar at the International Airport in the Nigerian capital, Lagos.

The airline's executives blamed employees of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. The airport authority in turn blamed the raid on unions upset over unpaid salaries. And the union alleged corruption and non-payment of wages, according to AP.

A spokesman for the country's Aviation Ministry later told AP that Arik was using the disruption of its flights as an excuse to try and escape paying money owed to the federal government.

Arik was one of the few remaining airlines operating in Nigeria. It is one of only three airline customers with orders for the passenger model of Boeing's new jumbo jet, the 747-8.

Boeing has pending firm orders from Arik for two 747-8s, eight 737s and seven 787-9s.

Arik Air collapse threatens Boeing orders | Business & Technology | The Seattle Times

johnso29

This is what happens when you treat your airspace as a cash cow, rather then an investment. If they would actually put $$$ into their system, they might avoid these types of things.

atpcliff

Nigeria is VERY corrupt...and that affects a LOT of areas negatively. No money left to do anything practical...

myoface

I highly doubt that Boeing would have counted on those orders from Arik actually happening.

captjns

I won't hold my breath and expect to read the following in the trade journals:

Boeing lays off thousands of workers do to Arik Air folding their wings