Ethiopian Airlines is negotiating with the Nigerian government to take over the bankrupt Arik Air, a senior official confirmed in Addis Ababa.

The Director of International Service at the Ethiopian Airlines Group, Mr Esayas Weldemariam, Wednesday said they were expanding their presence in West Africa.

"Following the bid opened by the Nigerian government, we are negotiating to secure management contract of Arik Air," Mr Esayas said, responding to the rumours about the impending deal.

The negotiations

"Based on the terms and conditions set by the Government of Nigeria, Ethiopian Airlines has submitted its offer to take over the management of Arik Air... We are bidding with other airlines, if we agree on the negotiations, we are ready to go and take over the management," he said.

Arik Air, which is one of the largest private airlines in Nigeria, has been serving as the de-facto national carrier for the most populous state in Africa.

Following the failure to service its debts and pay employees' salaries, Arik Air was last February taken over by the government.

Ethiopian Airlines also manages Asky Airlines in Lome, in a joint ownership with the Togo government, and the Malawian Airlines, also jointly with the government.

Business wings

The Addis Ababa flag carrier, which began operations in April 1946, has won several accolades in the recent past including African Airline of the Year in 2015 and 2016 by the African Aviation and in 2014 ranked the largest in Africa in revenue by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Ethiopian Airlines Group, which has several related business wings, envisages becoming a $10 billion revenue generating company by 2030, with a total of 140 aircraft, according to Mr Esayas.

It currently has a fleet of 92 aircraft, flying to 104 international 19 local destinations.

The airline reported a 70 per cent jump in full year 2016 net profit to $265 million boosted by an 18 per cent increase in passenger numbers over the period.

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201708310154.html

Front Page: dominique Lalasticlala mynd44

We should hide our heads in shame. Ethiopia that does not have any major natural resources has a National Carrier to the point that they are buying our privately owned. 9JA dem curse you?

Interesting so Nigeria government will own Arik airways while ethopian Airlines manages the company. I guess it is a de-faco national carrier like author mentioned. It seems ethopian airlines is pretty productive seeing how they manage other national carriers.

So there is nothing in this country that can be effectively managed by the government? Oh.. I forgot they can effectively manage their habit of stealing public funds.. #Rubbish

Pusyiter:
We should hide our heads in shame. Ethiopia that does not have any major natural resources has a National Carrier to the point that they are buying our privately owned. 9JA dem curse you?

You should read the story before rushing to comment. They aren't buying the airline they are submitting bid to manage airline. Yes they do have Natural resources being natural gas. Nigeria took over Arik airways.

All join but does 9ja have a National Carrier let alone submitting bids to manage airlines of other countries?

Blue3k:


You should read the story before rushing to comment. They aren't buying the airline they are submitting bid to manage airline. Yes they do have Natural resources being natural gas. Nigeria took over Arik airways.

Pusyiter:
All join but does 9ja have a National Carrier let alone submitting bids to manage airlines of other countries?

No Nigeria doesn't and who cares about having national carrier. Most people in this nation only want one for vain pride instead of practicality. The thing nigeria should focus on is the regulatory business environment to make sure private airlines can thrive. Countries like USA never had one. UK and Australia privatized theirs.

Lalasticlala I put this story up first.

Cool story

How about bid for Nigeria its self

I buy a private jet soon


..check my profile

I Dont know any 'major' 100% locally owned and locally managed big Nigerian comapny.........

Shame! Very soon states in Nigeria will be on sale.

Buy Ekiti get Osun free

Rwanda should come and buy this Country too unnecessary suffering everywhere

Now I believe, without a doubt, Nigeria is cursed. This is painful!

Pusyiter:
We should hide our heads in shame. Ethiopia that does not have any major natural resources has a National Carrier to the point that they are buying our privately owned. 9JA dem curse you?

Is it all about natural resources?
Natural resources does not automatically equal beong able to think
Name one natural resource Sweden, indonesia & co have yet they are so far ahead

MizTyna:
Shame! Very soon states in Nigeria will be on sale.

Buy Ekiti get Osun free

Abeg, no kill me with laugh.
kikikikiki

soberdrunk:
I Dont know any 'major' 100% locally owned and locally managed big Nigerian comapny.........

CBN. ...lol
The country is a joke!

Blue3k:


No Nigeria doesn't and who cares about having national carrier. Most people in this nation only want one for vain pride instead of practicality. The thing nigeria should focus on is the regulatory business environment to make sure private airlines can thrive. Countries like USA never had one. UK and Australia privatized theirs.

So far what has been the focus of .Nigeria and Nigerians?
Tribalism, nepotism and who is chopping more than who. Thinks that gets one nowhere.
Like someone rightly pointed out a country that cannot maintain One toilet, or maintian a stretch of road how can theu do all you have suggested

are they also interested in buhari



We can give them for free
Later they can come back for the country

MizTyna:
Shame! Very soon states in Nigeria will be on sale.

Buy Ekiti get Osun free

Really not a bad idea. Just make sure the people buying are not Nigerians you will see restults

Pusyiter:
We should hide our heads in shame. Ethiopia that does not have any major natural resources has a National Carrier to the point that they are buying our privately owned. 9JA dem curse you?

I tell you.
Ethiopia with all it's crisis and turmoil still very efficient in a very challenging airline environment.
This also puts lie to the now annoying cliche now becoming a chorus by African leaders that goverment is not good in running biz and should hands off.
I still maintain that what a properly run goverment enterprise can bring,100 private cannot.The problem Nigeria and other poorly run African govt led enterprises have is that they cannot separate cronyism,bigotry and family from biz leading to extreme corruption with employment of unqualified or poorly qualified individuals to run the enterprises.

Maybe I'm missing something here.
Arik Air was never a government property or corporation until the take over by the government to prevent it from going under. It was started managed and mis-managed by Nigerians.

While Nigeria as a country is not doing well, but why blame the country or say the country is cursed because a few punks mis-managed Arik?

Blue3k:


You should read the story before rushing to comment. They aren't buying the airline they are submitting bid to manage airline. Yes they do have Natural resources being natural gas. Nigeria took over Arik airways.

T is for Tailor oga

Pusyiter:
All join but does 9ja have a National Carrier let alone submitting bids to manage airlines of other countries?

You're correct when you say that we don't have a national carrier, but just know this, that our national carrier will soon be back on stream.

It pains me whenever I see a Nigerian owned company die

Blue3k:


You should read the story before rushing to comment. They aren't buying the airline they are submitting bid to manage airline. Yes they do have Natural resources being natural gas. Nigeria took over Arik airways.

There are no Nigerians in Nigeria or abroad that can manage Arik Air?

Don't support evil.

A third world country wants to manage one of the biggest companies in Nigeria and the Nigerian government is actively encouraging it....shame!!!!

If anybody supports us letting an Ethiopian company come and manage or buy or whatever English our useless government is using..
you are complicit in this evil. Because honestly that's what it is. Evil.

This country ain't even got a national carrier and one of the poorest African countries wants to run one of our biggest indigenous companies.


And the useless government invited them.
They couldn't see any corrupt free person home or abroad to run it??

Shame!

If only they can come, and manage our government to

They have the capacity to better manage it.

Blue3k:


You should read the story before rushing to comment. They aren't buying the airline they are submitting bid to manage airline. Yes they do have Natural resources being natural gas. Nigeria took over Arik airways.

Wetin e no read well.

Einl:
If anybody supports us letting an Ethiopian company come and manage or buy or whatever English our useless government is using..
you are complicit in this evil. Because honestly that's what it is. Evil.

This country ain't even got a national carrier and one of the poorest African countries wants to run one of our biggest indigenous companies.


And the useless government invited them.
They couldn't see any corrupt free person home or abroad to run it??

Shame!

You again?

Ethiopia is not a lesser country dn nigeria. It has a wealthier history, culture, identity and a better present dn whatever u think nigeria has.

U keep talking about Nigerian person to run it. Obviously u need a credible airline company with "experience" to run it. Are u an illiterate? Do u think just anyone can run an airline? It is obviously inexperience dts running down d private ones we have.

Anyway this partnership will soon die. The nigerian govt will still find a way to sabotage whatever agreements they have. Just like yaraduas men did to virgin and richard branson had to pull out of virgin nigeria.