ABOUT ARIK AIR
Arik Air Ltd is a privately and wholly Nigerian owned commercial airline with a commitment to the people of Nigeria to deliver new standards in aviation.
In 2002, with Nigeria Airways in liquidation, Arik Air’s Chairman, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide, bought a Hawker jet aircraft. Colleagues and contacts in the oil and gas industry started using the aircraft to fly themselves around Nigeria. So, another jet was acquired and before long, a corporate jet business was launched. The next step was to find the right people and the right aircraft to build an airline that would set new standards and change the face of the aviation industry in Africa. Arik Air was born - an airline with whom “Nigeria and the rest of Africa would be proud to fly”
In April 2006, Arik Air took occupation of some of the former Nigeria Airways facilities in Lagos and transformed them to a state-of-the-art facility. Arik Air also took delivery of three brand new Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft making the airline the first CRJ900 operator on the African continent and the first airline to introduce new commercial aircraft into Nigeria for over 20 years.
In October 2006, Arik Air was inaugurated, with its first flight between Lagos and Abuja on 30 October 2006. Over the next 36 months, additional brand new aircraft joined the growing fleet which now stands at 23 aircraft. By end 2011, Arik Air has successfully flown over 8 million passengers across a network of 40 domestic, West African and intercontinental routes.
In April 2007, Arik Air International Ltd was established in London by Dr Michael Arumemi-Ikhide. Set up to develop the worldwide routes and deliver a truly global airline with world class standards, Arik Air International acts as the overseas corporate office of Arik Air.
On 15 December 2008, Arik Air successfully launched its first long-haul flight between Lagos and London Heathrow, flying daily with a newly acquired Airbus A340-500, offering the highest degree of operational flexibility and unmatched passenger comfort. The aircraft offers 36 Premier Class and 201 Economy Class seats. Premier Class passengers enjoy ‘super flat’ beds equipped with 17 inch monitors and a new generation in-built massage system. It also has a communal area which comprises a bar lounge, sofas and a seat-free space for socialising. Arik also offers a choice of Nigerian and international cuisine to supplement the Nigerian and international entertainment options. Furthermore, Arik offers the most generous free luggage allowance on the route, with 3x30kg check-in baggage in business class and 2x30kg in economy class.
In June 2009, Arik Air commenced operations to its second long haul destination - Johannesburg, South Africa - as well as flights to several destinations in the West African region; linking Lagos to Sierra Leone, Senegal, The Gambia as well as Benin and Ghana. November 2009 saw the launch of the only non-stop operation between New York (JFK) and Lagos, with flights three times a week on the flagship A340-500 aircraft. With traffic rights obtained to many other international destinations across the globe, including Abu Dhabi, Houston, Beijing, Paris and Sao Paulo, this is just the beginning of Arik Air’s international expansion.
In October 2011, Arik Air secured membership to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the industry regulatory body, in recognition of its dedication to safety & security, customer service and enhancement of aviation standards in Nigeria.