London's Heathrow Airport has reported its busiest April on record, with approximately 7.1 million passengers passing through its terminals. This marks a significant increase from the 6.7 million passengers recorded in April 2024, showcasing the airport's rapid recovery from a late March power outage that led to over 1,300 flight cancellations. The timing of the Easter holiday, which saw nearly 1 million passengers during the weekend of April 18 to 21, played a pivotal role in this achievement.

The airport's performance was bolstered by exceptional demand for Italian destinations, with Florence and Venice experiencing record numbers. Additionally, passenger traffic between Heathrow and the European Union rose by 4.7% year-on-year, reaching over 2.4 million, while North American routes saw a 5.5% increase to 1.75 million passengers. Notably, the Heathrow-New York JFK route achieved the million-passenger mark year-to-date in record time, further underscoring the airport's robust recovery and operational efficiency.

Heathrow's chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, praised the airport's performance, stating, 'Last month showed Heathrow at its very best - we successfully navigated our busiest April ever whilst our service levels took a further leap forward.' The airport also highlighted its departure punctuality as the highest among major European hubs, with 99% of bags making it onto planned flights and 97% of passengers clearing security in under five minutes.

As Heathrow looks ahead to the busy summer season, the focus remains on maintaining high service levels and ensuring a seamless experience for passengers. The record-breaking April serves as a testament to the airport's resilience and its ability to rebound from challenges, setting a positive tone for the months to come.

The ongoing trial involving the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and Arik Air has taken a dramatic turn as Muhammed Abbas Jega, a former Executive Director of Credits at AMCON, contradicted his earlier testimony regarding the performance of Arik Air's loan. Initially, Jega had stated that the loan was performing, but during cross-examination, he admitted that the loan had been non-performing since its inception, shedding light on the complexities of the case.

Jega's revelation came during the trial of former AMCON MD/CEO Ahmed Kuru and others, who are facing charges related to the alleged mismanagement of N76 billion and $31.5 million. The case, which has drawn significant attention, highlights the challenges faced by AMCON in managing non-performing loans acquired from Nigerian banks under the Eligible Bank Asset (EBA) programme.

Further complicating the matter, Jega disclosed that despite AMCON's injection of N85 billion to purchase Arik's debt from Union Bank and Bank PHB, and an additional N11 billion extended as working capital, Arik Air failed to meet its financial obligations. This admission raises questions about the due diligence processes at AMCON and the viability of the airline's financial restructuring efforts.

The trial also took an unexpected turn when Jega questioned the authenticity of the Loan Purchase Agreement presented in court, pointing out discrepancies in signatures and document structure. This development adds another layer of intrigue to the case, as it challenges the integrity of the documents underpinning the financial transactions between AMCON and Arik Air. The court's decision on these matters could have far-reaching implications for corporate governance and financial accountability in Nigeria's banking and aviation sectors.