BY ANTHONY OMOH
The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has debunked claims suggesting that Arik Air’s operational aircraft totaled 30 before its receivership. The Corporation clarified that when it took over the airline, only eight serviceable planes were found, a stark contrast to the exaggerated figures being circulated. AMCON disclosed this while providing a detailed breakdown of the airline’s fleet status both before and during receivership, highlighting the challenges it inherited.
AMCON revealed that Arik Air’s operational aircraft at the time consisted of five Boeing 737s, one CRJ1000, one CRJ900, and one Q400. Specifically, the serviceable aircraft included 5N-MJH, 5N-MJN, 5N-MJJ, 5N-MJK, 5N-MJE, 5N-MJF, 5N-JEE, and 5N-BKX. The Corporation further noted that even these planes required urgent maintenance to remain airworthy, underscoring the airline’s precarious state at the time of the takeover.

media at a recent business luncheon with strategic media stakeholders of AMCON at the
Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja
The remaining fleet, however, painted a grim picture. Aircraft like 5N-MJA and 5N-MJB, both Boeing 737-300s, were abandoned in Norwich and Southend in the UK, respectively. Others, including 5N-MJC and 5N-MJD, were extensively cannibalized in Lagos. Meanwhile, 5N-MJG and 5N-MJI, both Boeing 737-700s, required extensive spare parts to become operational again. Adding to the troubles, 5N-MJP, a 737-800, was abandoned in Johannesburg, South Africa, while several other aircraft suffered similar fates in locations across Europe and Africa.
AMCON emphasized the dire state of Arik Air’s operational aircraft prior to receivership. The Q400 turboprops, such as 5N-BKU, 5N-BKV, and 5N-BKW, were either awaiting spare parts or had been extensively stripped for components. Multiple CRJ900s, alongside two Airbus A330-200s identified as 5N-JIC and 5N-JID, were either unserviceable or stored in locations like Lagos and Perpignan, France. The Corporation also revealed the fate of two A340-500s, CS-TFW and CS-TFX, one of which was seized and operated by HiFly in Portugal, while the other was extensively cannibalized in Lagos.
Adding to the complexity of the fleet’s mismanagement, AMCON highlighted how the airline’s Hawker 4000 jets were repossessed by creditors, leaving their locations unknown. Other aircraft under Arik Air’s ownership were scrapped, auctioned, or left in long-term storage at sites in Malta, Lithuania, and Slovenia. Even Arik Air’s operational aircraft faced significant challenges, with some undergoing maintenance in Addis Ababa and Johannesburg and others being abandoned or near repossession by creditors.
Despite the challenges, AMCON acknowledged a glimmer of hope in a few remaining serviceable aircraft. A handful of Q400 turboprops in Lagos remain operational, offering a slim opportunity for recovery. However, these positive notes are overshadowed by the magnitude of the financial and operational hurdles the airline continues to face.
AMCON’s revelations about Arik Air’s operational aircraft underscore the severe mismanagement that plagued the airline before its receivership. The Corporation called for a comprehensive overhaul of the airline’s operations, emphasizing the need for financial restructuring and strategic optimization of remaining assets. Without decisive action, AMCON warned, Arik Air risks losing its legacy as a major player in Nigeria’s aviation sector.