Twenty months after cancelling an Abuja-bound flight due to Covid-19 pandemic, Arik Air has told Alabi Ikeolu, one of its passengers, that a refund is no longer possible.

On November 16, and for the second time, a mail from Prince Ahuchaogu, a refund analyst with the airline, told Alabi that the refund could no longer be processed as the timeline given to him had expired.

READ ALSO: Arik Air Denies Passenger Refund for Flight Cancelled Over COVID-19 Lockdown

“On November 17, a day after I received the mail, I responded asking if it was my fault that a pandemic broke out, leading to a lockdown. I also asked why I would compulsorily have to travel at a period I do not need to travel, just because the airline wants me to make use of the ticket.

“It has been twenty months since I booked the flight and I am yet to get a favourable response from them,” Alabi said in a chat with FIJ.

In March 2020, Alabi had booked a roundtrip Arik Air ticket for Oyedoyin Oyeyiola, his wife, who was to travel from Lagos to Abuja for an appointment.

READ ALSO: Arik Air Returns Missing Luggage after FIJ’s Story — But $625 Cash Stolen

However, the lockdown order from the federal government as a result of the spread of the Covid-19 virus led to travel restrictions which prevented Oyedoyin’s travel during the period.

After the lockdown was relaxed, the airline told him he could get a refund. However, when he asked how he could get it, he was told on September 29 that the refund was no longer available.

READ ALSO: Businessman’s ‘Vital’ Luggage Goes Missing on Arik Air’s Ilorin-Abuja Flight

“It is sad that even after demanding for a refund, I am getting a similar response a second time from one of the foremost airlines in the country,” Alabi added.

After the initial response he got from the airline on September 29, FIJ had placed several calls to Arik’s phone numbers, but they were not answered. The text message and email that were also sent to them were also not responded to.