Hundreds of Arik Air passengers were stranded at the JFK International Airport in New York, United States on Thursday, following the inability of the airline to transport them back home.
The North America Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria reports that the situation resulted to disorder at the boarding gate of the airline as the passengers became restless, having spent hours waiting for final boarding announcement.
They were billed to be flown out by 11p.m (New York time) on Wednesday but by 5a.m on Thursday, the passengers remained stranded at the airport.
Among the stranded passengers were sick old people on wheelchairs, children and pregnant women.
Some of the passengers told NAN that they were checked in for boarding between 8p.m and 9p.m and after which the airline officials did not let them know what the problem was with its aircraft.
According to the passengers, they were left at the boarding gate unattended to until about 5a.m when they were told to pick-up their luggage and wait for further information on the situation.
They expressed disgust at the failure of the airline to fly them to Nigeria, saying that the situation had affected their business appointments.
Some also claimed they were travelling to attend burial ceremonies and could no longer continue with the journey.
The visibly angry passengers demanded immediate refund of their airfare and compensation for the inconvenience caused them.
They also threatened to sue the airline for making them go through ‘hell’, adding that the airline had exposed its inefficiency.
A passenger, Joel Ejijeme, described the situation where the airline management at the airport could not effectively inform them on what the exact situation was as “apalling.”
On April 20, the airline issued its passengers a $12 meal voucher each, following three hours of delay at the same airport.
The flight, which was scheduled to depart at 11p.m, did not leave until about 2a.m.
In a response to a text message by NAN correspondent , the airline’s spokesperson, Mr. Banji Ola, said the aircraft developed a technical problem and the passengers were duly informed of the development.
“We have also taken adequate care of them,” he added.
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Mr Banji Ola, it's ur word against that of de passengers. Who is speaking de truth? Only God knows. That's Nigerians 4 u. I think Mr Ola losses nothing by accepting & apologizing 4 what happened. That's the path of honour being expected of a man in a management position as his. His point of argument is 4 me, not necessary. May we learn to say "sorry" when we are wrong.
ReplyDeleteArik should aim to build a lasting relationship with customers for a better future.
ReplyDeleteIf passengers decide to take legal action, the airline will suffer.