By Chuks Okoh
Arik Air is resuming flight services to Banjul, Gambia from Wednesday, October 1, 2014,the Managing Director, Mr Chris Ndulue has said.
The airline will now be operating three weekly flights from both Lagos and Abuja to Banjul via Accra (Ghana) on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. With this new schedule, Arik Air is allowing the Banjul route to sell three market segments on one operated flight (i.e. Banjul-Accra + Banjul-Lagos + Banjul-Abuja vice versa).
Outbound flight departs Lagos at 5:00 pm (local time), arrives Accra at 5:00 pm (local time) and leaves Accra for Banjul at 8:00 pm. From Abuja, the outbound flight departs at 6:10 pm (local time), arrives Accra at 7:00 pm (local time) and leaves for Banjul at 8:00 pm.
Arik Air’s Managing Director, Mr Chris Ndulue said : “We are pleased to resume flight operations into Banjul after the brief period of suspension due to the Ebola Virus Disease episode. The safety and security of our passengers and crew is always the airline’s top priority. As such, we are working with local and international health authorities to safeguard the health and well-being of our guests and staff as we resume operations into The Gambia”.
Flights were suspended on the heels of the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa.Alarm bells in Nigeria rang after Liberian,Mr Patrick Sawyer became the first Ebola case in Lagos.The federal government as well as Lagos and Rivers State governments responded swiftly thus putting the spread under control.Sadly some Nigerians who had contact with the index case died as well.
Schools in most states have resumed as the panic over Ebola ebbed.The resumption of flights by Arik may be a measure of the confidence in the steps taken by Nigeria.There is however no doubt that extra caution still needs to be taken as Ebola has no care yet.And West Africa still appears vulnerable.
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