Arik acquires A330-200

According to Breaking News Travel, Nigeria’s Arik Air has expanded its international fleet with the acquisition of the new A330-200 twin-engine aircraft.

The new aircraft will service long-haul routes, including London Heathrow, New York John F Kennedy and O.R. Tambo International in Johannesburg.

The introduction of the airline’s first Airbus A330-200 widebody aircraft will increase the fleet to 24, with another two dozen planes on order.

“We continue to rise as the airline of choice for passengers travelling to West Africa from New York, and we are dedicated to the delivery of premium customer service and efficiency to our passengers,” said Robert Brunner, VP: America’s Arik Air. “The expansion of our fleet with the acquisition of a new A330-200 twin-engine aircraft, will enable us to provide our passengers with an even more robust service offering.”

Arik increases capacity between Lagos and Johannesburg

Arik Air has increased capacity on its Lagos-Johannesburg route.

The airline switched planes – from the 148-seater Boeing 737-800 to the 238-seater Airbus A340-500 – and began transporting more passengers on daily flights from 16 July.

According to website Centreforaviation, Arik’s decision will increase competition with SAA, which operates daily with a mix of two-class 253-seat A340-300 and 317-seat A340-600 planes as the only other carrier on the route.

Flight W3103 departs Lagos, Nigeria, at 22h45 and arrives in Johannesburg, South Africa at 05h50. Return flight W3104 leave Johannesburg at 09h35 and lands in Lagos at 14h55.

Arik receives two A330s

According to CH-Aviation, Nigeria’s Arik Air is set to take delivery of two A330-200s later this month.

The planes are being leased from Irish aviation specialists, Pembroke Group.

The airline plans to increase the frequency of its flights to New York JFK from three times a week to daily - the two A330s will help to make this expansion possible.

The aeroplanes are already four years old, but Arik plans to use them only for the next eight years, before swapping them for new Airbus A350s.

Arik also has seven B787-900s, two B747-800s and eight B737-800s on order from Boeing. Once the B737-800s are delivered, the airline intends to commence flights to Egypt and other North African countries.

Between its two hubs in Lagos and Abuja, Arik flies to 30 destinations, including London, New York and Johannesburg.

Arik Air On Nigerian

Visas According to Business Travel Now, Arik Air has advised South African agents to contact the Nigerian consul general to verify which documents and paperwork are required by clients arriving at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Agents can contact the Consulate General Johannesburg on  +27 11 442 3620. Arik Air also reminds agents that the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria no longer issues Nigerian visas.

Arik Flies to Kinshasa

Arik Air is expanding its regional African network with the addition of new flight services from Lagos, Nigeria to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The first commercial flight on the route takes place on Wednesday, 5 December and will subsequently operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Sundays.
The announcement means Kinshasa has now become Arik Air’s third destination in Central Africa, following the inclusion of flights to Luanda, Angola in 2011 and Douala, Cameroon in August this year.
 The new Lagos-Kinshasa service will operate via Douala, Cameroon with outbound flights departing from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at 11h10 and arriving at Douala International Airport at 12h40. Flights will then continue on to Kinshasa, departing from Douala at 13h25 and arriving at N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa at 15h25.
The return flights will leave Kinshasa at 16h10, arriving in Douala at 18h10 and will thereafter leave Douala at 18h55, arriving in Lagos at 20h25. Passengers can still take advantage of the existing thrice weekly flights between Lagos and Douala on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This service departs Lagos at 11h10 and arrives in Douala at 12h40. The return flight departs Douala at 13h25 and arrives in Lagos at 14h55. The Lagos-Kinshasa route will be served with a Boeing 737-700 Next Generation aircraft. The 737-700 is a two-class compartment and the configuration is 12 Business Class seats and 112 Economy Class. Business Class passengers will enjoy a 44-inch seat pitch with cradle-style seats, while Economy Class passengers will have a seat pitch of 34 inches. Kinshasa is Arik’s 12th African destination.

Arik Adds New Route

Arik Air has begun scheduled commercial services between Lagos, Nigeria and Douala, Cameroon, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Outbound flights depart Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at 11h10 (local time) and arrive in Douala at 12h40 (local time), whilst inbound flights leave Douala at 13h25 (local time) and arrive in Lagos at 14:55 (local time). The route is served with a Boeing 737-700 Next Generation aircraft with a two-class cabin, made up of 12 Business Class seats and 112 Economy Class seats. Business Class passengers enjoy a 44-inch seat pitch, cradle-style seat, while Economy Class passengers have a seat pitch of 34 inches. The new Lagos-Douala route is Arik Air’s second foray into Central Africa, coming after the inauguration of the Lagos-Luanda (Angola) route in December last year.

Arik Fly to Luanda

Arik Air is to begin scheduled flights from its hub in Lagos to the Angolan capital, Luanda, becoming the first and only Nigerian carrier to operate scheduled flights between the two cities.

The first flight is to launch on 13 December and will operate twice weekly on a Tuesday and Saturday.

The outbound flight will depart Lagos Murtala Muhammed International every Tuesday at 07h00 (local time) and arrive in Luanda at 10h10 (local time). The inbound flight will leave Luanda at 11h50 and arrive back in Lagos at 14h55.

Every Saturday, the outbound flight will depart Lagos at 02h00 and arrive in Luanda at 05h05. The inbound flight will leave Luanda at 07h00 and arrive in Lagos at 10h05. Passengers on Arik’s international routes from London (UK), Dakar (Senegal), Accra (Ghana) and Cotonou (Benin) can connect onwards to Luanda with convenient connections in both directions.

The Lagos - Luanda route will be served with a Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. The 737-800 is a two class compartment and the configuration is 16 Business Class seats and 132 Economy Class. Business Class passengers can enjoy a 44” seat pitch, cradle-style seat with 8.6” individual screens. Economy Class passengers will equally enjoy plenty of room on the 3h 10min flight with a seat pitch of 34”.