By Daniel Eteghe & Okebugwu Chinomnso

LAGOS – Arik Air, yesterday, resumed its flight operations on the Abuja-London Heathrow route six weeks after suspending operations on the route, caused by alleged denial of slots by British Airways.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja during the resumption of the airline’s flight operations, Regional Manager, Northern Operations, Arik Air, Mr. Hamza Bukar, affirmed that the commencement of the airlines’ flight operations was a victory for Nigerians who were united in fighting for their rights.

He, however, noted that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement, BASA, was not all about Arik Air but the right of Nigerians.

He promised that the airline would continue to provide valuable services to the Nigerian travelling public.

He said: “You can see the excitement written all over our faces. We are excited because we have fulfilled the yawning of Nigerians. For the first time Nigerians were untied in fighting for their own right because this is not about Arik right, it is the right of Nigerians.

“BASA is Nigerians’ right and there was unity. So, to this effect this is just the climax of it, so whatever you witnessed today is the climax of what has happened, what Nigerians have been yawning for. We have just produced a kind of service Nigerians have been yawning for. There is nothing more to say that we would not disappoint Nigerians.”

Expressing their joy over the resumption of the airlines’ flight operations, one of the passengers on board the flight, Mr. Sahadu Baloni,  said Nigerians should be more patriotic in supporting their own whenever the name of the country was involved.