Arik Air will commence flights from London to the Nigerian capital Abuja later this week, adding to its existing London-Lagos service. The carrier will also start flights from Lagos to New York from November 29.
Arik launched flights from London to Lagos in December last year, using Airbus A340-500 aircraft with fully-flat business class seats originally destined for Kingfisher Airlines (see online news December 12, 2008).
The new service to Abuja will run five times per week, albeit with smaller Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Arik has not given details of the exact seating product of the new aircraft, and it is unlikely to rival the flat-bed seating on the A340-500s. The carrier says the B737-800s are configured for “20 business class seats and 126 economy class seats offering personal audio and video entertainment including a choice of short programmes and a selection of Hollywood and Nollywood movie favourites”.
The outbound flight will depart Abuja at 1030, arriving at London Heathrow (Terminal 4) at 1605, with the return leg departing London at 2150, arriving into Abuja at 0520 the following morning.
In addition Arik Air will commence transatlantic flights between Lagos and New York on November 29. The service will operate three times per week using the wide-bodied A340-500 aircraft. Flights will depart Lagos on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 2320, arriving into New York JFK (Terminal 4) at 0550 the following morning. The return leg will leave JFK on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2200, landing back in Lagos at 1440 the following day.
For more information visit arikair.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
