Arik Air

Infobox Airline
airline = Arik Air

logo_size =
fleet_size = 21 (+47 orders)
destinations = 17
IATA = W3
ICAO = ARA
callsign = ARIK AIR
parent =
company_slogan = Wings of Nigeria
founded = 2004 [Arikair.com: [http://www.arikair.com/arikair/racine_site/about_us.asp] ]
headquarters = Lagos, Nigeria
key_people = Michael McTighe (CEO), Chairman Sir JIA Aruremi-Johnson
hubs = Murtala Muhammed International Airport
secondary_hubs =
focus_cities =
frequent_flyer =
lounge =
alliance =
website = http://www.arikair.com

Arik Air is an airline based in Lagos, Nigeria operating a growing domestic network. Regional and international destinations are planned to be added. Its main base is Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 77 | date= 2007-03-27]

History

On 3 April 2006, Arik Air took over the former Nigeria Airways facilities in Lagos, some three years after liquidation and began reconstruction work. On 14 June 2006, Arik took delivery of the two new Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft to fly domestic routes throughout Nigeria and to the African continent from summer 2006, two former United Airlines Boeing 737-300s and three 50 seat Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft. On 30 October 2006 Arik began scheduled passenger flights with four flights between Lagos and Abuja using CRJ 900 aircraft. Flight operations began to Calabar on 15 November 2006 and services to Benin City and Enugu started on 7 January 2007. [http://www.arikair.com Arik Air website] retrieved 4 February 2007] The airline is wholly owned by Ojemai Investments.

The Nigerian government set a deadline of 30 April 2007 for all airlines operating in the country to re-capitalise or be grounded, in an effort to ensure better services and safety. The airline satisfied the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)’s criteria in terms of re-capitalization and was re-registered for operation. [ [http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/NR/exeres/B30C7654-36D9-4C57-837C-1EAB4A103091.htm?id=637 Nigeria Direct] 2 May 2007]

On April 4, 2008, Arik Air was given permission by to fly to the United States by the Department of Transportation. [ [http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=090000648043a7d0 Regulations.gov ] ]

Destinations

The initial domestic network was expected to cover the following cities: Abuja, Calabar, Enugu, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, and Yola. The airline has also commenced international service to Accra in Ghana and plans to operate in the future to Dakar.

In August 2006, the Federal Ministry of Aviation granted Arik Air authorization to fly to Trinidad and Tobago and Amsterdam, London, Madrid in Europe. Furthermore, the airline plans to fly to Atlanta, Miami, and Houston in the United States and Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

Arik Air has built up a strong domestic network. Regional and long-haul routes to neighbouring countries and Europe will be introduced later in 2008. [Airliner World, February 2007] The first flight to the United States is announced for February 2009.

Arik Air will start operating flights to London-Heathrow in November 2008, using Airbus A340-500s as equipment. [ [http://odili.net/news/source/2008/jul/14/215.html] , July 2008]

A subsidiary airline Arik Niger will be established in Niger, operating a fleet of five aircraft. First domestic and regional flights will commence in August 2008. [ [http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=eco_article&id_article=69866] ]

Africa

*Ghana
**Accra (Kotoka International Airport)

*Nigeria
**Abuja (Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport)
**Akure (Akure Airport)
**Benin City (Benin Airport)
**Calabar (Margaret Ekpo International Airport )
**Enugu (Akanu Ibiam International Airport)
**Jos (Yakubu Gowon Airport)
**Kaduna (Kaduna Airport)
**Kano (Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport)
**Lagos (Murtala Mohammed International Airport)
**Maiduguri (Maiduguri International Airport)
**Owerri (Imo Airport)
**Port Harcourt
***(NAF Base Port Harcourt)
***(Port Harcourt International Airport)
**Sokoto (Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport)
**Warri (Warri Airport)
**Yola (Yola Airport)

Europe

*United Kingdom
**London (London Heathrow Airport) [Starts Nov 2008] [ [http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200807143204645 The Punch: UK grants Arik Heathrow slot ] ]

Fleet

The Arik Air fleet includes the following aircraft (as of 29 September 2008) [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=AIK&al_op=1] :

As of 10 July 2008, the average age of the Arik Air fleet is 5.4 years ( [http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/Arik%20Air.htm] ).

External links

* [http://www.arikair.com Arik Air]
* [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=AIK&al_op=1 Arik Air Fleet]

References