The management of the airline disclosed this in a statement released today Friday, December 4. The management hinged its decision to sack the workers on the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations.

Recall that Nigerian airspace was shut in March this year and opened in July as part of measures to contain the spread of the Coronavirus in Nigeria.

The press statement titled, “Arik Air management declares 300 staff redundant”, reads in part

“Arising from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the constrained ability of the airline to complete heavy maintenance activities and return its planes to operations, stunted revenues against increasing operational costs, the management of Arik Air (In Receivership) has declared 300 staff members redundant to its current level of operations.

“The leadership of the impacted unions has been contacted to negotiate a redundancy package for the affected staff.”

Gistflash gathered that Passengers are already stranded the airport with the flight fully booked and no one to attend to them

Stranded at Abuja Airport . I just learned #Arik staff embarked on strike without any prior notice to passengers No one has come to address us yet. Other flights are fully booked. @ArikAir. Sigh! pic.twitter.com/LXHQPySTsw

— DRISBLOGINT (@Drisblogint) December 4, 2020