Nigeria’s number one airline, Arik Air is expanding its route network with the addition of Maiduguri and Yola to the list of airports now serviced by the airline.
Beginning Monday, December 10, 2007, Arik will link Maiduguri and Yola with the Federal Capital, Abuja and Lagos. The round trip flights will originate daily from Yola and Maiduguri airports into the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja and Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
The introduction of the new routes is part of efforts by the airline to link the nooks and crannies of Nigeria while also ensuring that Nigerians have a seamless connection to their destinations.
Arik Air will be operating the new routes using the Boeing 737-700 Next Generation aircraft.
The Maiduguri-Abuja flight to be operated Monday through Saturday will depart Maiduguri at 7:30am and arrive Abuja at 8:45am, while the Maiduguri-Lagos flight (Monday-Saturday) will depart Maiduguri at 7:30am and arrive Lagos at 10:30am.
Abuja-Maiduguri (Monday-Friday/Sunday) is scheduled to depart Abuja at 6:45pm and arrive Maiduguri at 8:00pm; and Lagos-Maiduguri (Monday-Saturday/Sunday) flight will depart Lagos at 4:45pm and arrive at 8:00pm.
Yola-Abuja to be operated Monday through Saturday will depart Yola at 8:15am and arrive Abuja at 9:15am while Lagos-Yola (Monday-Friday/Sunday) will depart Lagos at 6:05pm and arrive Yola at 8:40pm.
Abuja-Yola (Monday-Friday/Sunday) is scheduled to depart Abuja at 7:40pm and arrive at 8:40pm; and Lagos-Yola (Monday-Friday/Sunday) will depart at 6:05pm to arrive at 8:40pm.
The latest additions thus bring to 11 the number of airports being serviced by Arik Air and this clearly makes the airline the local carrier with the largest route network.
Arik Air flies to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin, Enugu, Calabar, Warri, Kano and Lagos.
The airline has within a week, taken delivery of two brand new Boeing 737-700NG aircraft to boost its operations.
Arik Air which has been designated the national carrier of Niger Republic is expected to begin flight operations to the west coast in the New Year.