Arik Air

Last updated

Arik Air
Arik Air logo.svg
IATA ICAO Call sign
W3ARAARIK AIR
Founded2002
Commenced operations30 October 2006
Hubs
Focus cities Kotoka International Airport
Frequent-flyer program Arik Affinity Wings
Fleet size14
Destinations16
Parent company Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria
Headquarters Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria
Key peopleCapt. Roy Ilegbodu
Website www.arikair.com

Arik Air is a Nigerian airline operating mainly from two hubs at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. [1] Arik Air's head office is the Arik Air Aviation Center on the grounds of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja. [2] Arik Air serves a network of regional and mid-haul destinations within Africa.

Contents

History

Early years

The company was created in 2004 by Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide from the ashes of Nigeria Airways, which was liquidated in 2002. [3]

In August 2006, the Federal Ministry of Aviation granted Arik Air authorisation to fly to Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean and Amsterdam, London and Madrid in Europe. Furthermore, the airline then planned to fly to Atlanta, Miami, and Houston in the United States and Birmingham in the United Kingdom. [4]

On 4 April 2008, Arik Air was given permission to fly to the United States by the US Department of Transportation. [5] Arik Air started international operations to London-Heathrow on 15 December 2008, using an Airbus A340-500 aircraft wet-leased from Hi Fly. [6] It added to its destinations Johannesburg on 1 June 2009, [7] New York JFK on 30 November 2009, [8] and Dubai on 28 July 2014.

Subsidiary airline Arik Niger (IATA code: Q9) commenced operations in April 2009, but was shut down in February 2010. [9]

Development since 2010

Arik Air transported its 5 millionth passenger on 6 August 2010 [10] and it transported its 10 millionth passenger on 18 September 2012, both on flights between Johannesburg and Lagos. [11] On 20 September 2012, the airline cancelled all its domestic operations after aviation officials raided the airline's office in Lagos, Nigeria. [12] Flights resumed on 23 September. [13] Arik Air had placed an order for five Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which was cancelled in 2011. [14] Arik Air then placed an order for two Boeing 747-8I aircraft 2013. [15] [16] However, in early 2017, Arik Air converted the 747-8I orders to two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners instead. [17] Arik Air had been the last remaining airline customer for the passenger 747-8 (who had not yet received any examples). The conversion of the 747-8 order to Dreamliners came shortly after the airline, owing to major financial stress and most aircraft not being operational, was taken over by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) at the start of 2017, deeming the airline too big to fail. Since the takeover, all flights leaving Africa, along with flights to O.R. Tambo International Airport, have been gradually suspended. [18] [19] Simultaneously, KPMG was appointed by AMCON to conduct a forensic audit on Arik Air's books. [20] Since then, AMCON is gradually in the process of reviving and stabilising the airline and its operations. [21]

Due to Arik Air's debt, the airline is projected to merge with Aero Contractors. [22] [23] [24] It has also been revealed that this new airline merger is to be re-branded as Nigeria Eagle (styled as NG Eagle), [25] [26] with some of the aircraft already re-painted to represent the new livery. [27] It is speculated by many to be another attempt to re-establish a national airline by AMCON, even though they have officially dissociated any relations with the plans; stating that they were going to make a start-up airline. [28]

Fleet

Current fleet

An Arik Air Boeing 737-800 landing at Heathrow Airport Arik Air Boeing 737-800 5N-MJN in LHR.jpg
An Arik Air Boeing 737-800 landing at Heathrow Airport

As of November 2022, the Arik Air fleet consists of the following aircraft:[ citation needed ]

Arik Air fleet
AircraftIn serviceOrdersPassengersNotes
CYTotal
Boeing 737-700 4—12112124
12119131
—149149
Boeing 737-800 3—16132148
Boeing 737 MAX 8 —8 [29] TBA
Boeing 787-9 —9 [29] TBA2 orders converted from Boeing 747-8Is [17]
Bombardier CRJ900 3—106575
De Havilland Dash 8-400 4—106272
Total1417

Former fleet

A former Arik Air Airbus A330-200 on short final to John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York. Arik Air Airbus A330-223 5N-JIC.jpg
A former Arik Air Airbus A330-200 on short final to John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York.

Arik Air previously operated the following aircraft:[ citation needed ]

Arik Air historical fleet
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Airbus A330-200 420102017
Airbus A340-500 220092015Operated by Hi Fly.
Bombardier CRJ200ER 320072008
De Havilland Canada DHC-8-300 320072010
Fokker 50 520072011

Incidents and accidents

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 747</span> American wide-body long-range commercial jet aircraft

The Boeing 747 is a long-range wide-body airliner designed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States between 1968 and 2023. After the introduction of the 707 in October 1958, Pan Am wanted a jet 2+1⁄2 times its size, to reduce its seat cost by 30%. In 1965, Joe Sutter left the 737 development program to design the 747. In April 1966, Pan Am ordered 25 Boeing 747-100 aircraft, and in late 1966, Pratt & Whitney agreed to develop the JT9D engine, a high-bypass turbofan. On September 30, 1968, the first 747 was rolled out of the custom-built Everett Plant, the world's largest building by volume. The 747's first flight took place on February 9, 1969, and the 747 was certified in December of that year. It entered service with Pan Am on January 22, 1970. The 747 was the first airplane called a "Jumbo Jet" as the first wide-body airliner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Airways</span> Flag carrier of South Africa

South African Airways (SAA) is the flag carrier of South Africa. Founded in 1934, the airline is headquartered in Airways Park at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and operates a hub-and-spoke network, serving 13 destinations in Africa and two intercontinental destinations to Perth, Australia and São Paulo, Brazil. The carrier joined Star Alliance in April 2006, making it the first African carrier to sign with one of the three major airline alliances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 747-400</span> Wide-body airliner, improved production series of the 747

The Boeing 747-400 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, an advanced variant of the initial Boeing 747. The "Advanced Series 300" was announced at the September 1984 Farnborough Airshow, targeting a 10% cost reduction with more efficient engines and 1,000 nautical miles [nmi] of additional range. Northwest Airlines became the first customer with an order for 10 aircraft on October 22, 1985. The first 747-400 was rolled out on January 26, 1988, and made its maiden flight on April 29, 1988. Type certification was received on January 9, 1989, and it entered service with Northwest on February 9, 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Namibia</span> Former flag carrier of Namibia

Air Namibia (Pty) Limited, which traded as Air Namibia, was the national airline of Namibia, headquartered in the country's capital, Windhoek. It operated scheduled domestic, regional, and international passenger and cargo services, having its international hub in Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport and a domestic hub at the smaller Windhoek Eros Airport. As of December 2013, the carrier was wholly owned by the Namibian government. Air Namibia was a member of both the International Air Transport Association and the African Airlines Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ikeja</span> Capital city of Lagos State, Nigeria

Ikeja is the capital city of Lagos State in southwestern Nigeria. Its population, as of the 2006 census, is 313196. Prior to the emergence of military rule in the early 1980s, Ikeja was a well planned, clean and quiet residential and commercial town with shopping malls, pharmacies and government reservation areas. It lies 17 km northwest of Lagos city. The Murtala Muhammed International Airport is located in the city. Ikeja is also home to Femi Kuti's Africa Shrine and Lagbaja's Motherland, both venues for live music. Its Ikeja City Mall is the largest shopping mall on the Lagos State mainland. Ikeja also has its own radio station, broadcasting both in English and in Yoruba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tolmachevo Airport</span> Airport in Ob, Russia

Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport is situated in the town of Ob, 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) west of the center of Novosibirsk, an industrial and scientific center in Siberia and Russia's third-largest city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murtala Muhammed International Airport</span> International airport serving Lagos, Nigeria

Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) is an international airport located in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, and is the major airport serving the entire state. The airport was initially built during World War II and is named after Murtala Muhammed (1938–1976), the fourth military ruler of Nigeria.

Port Harcourt International Airport is an international airport located in Omagwa, a suburb of Port Harcourt, the capital city of the Rivers State in Nigeria. The airport has two terminals for both international and domestic flights. The new International terminal was commissioned by the executive president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari on 25 October 2018. In 2009, the airport served 1,081,587 passengers, making it the third-busiest airport in Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TAAG Angola Airlines</span> Flag carrier of Angola

TAAG Angola Airlines E.P. is a state-owned airline and flag carrier of Angola. Based in Luanda, the airline operates domestic services within Angola, medium-haul services in Africa and long-haul services to Brazil, Cuba, and Portugal. The airline was originally set up by the government as DTA – Divisão dos Transportes Aéreos in 1938, rechristened TAAG Angola Airlines in 1973, and gained flag carrier status in 1975. It is now a member of both the International Air Transport Association and the African Airlines Association. The airline uses Quatro de Fevereiro Airport as their hub, but plans to move their hub progressively to Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport until the end of the first quarter of 2025. The first flight connection at the new airport was launched on November 10, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aero Contractors (Nigeria)</span> Nigerian airline

Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria Limited, known as Aero Contractors or simply Aero, is a state-controlled Nigerian airline company based at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. Furthermore, it operates helicopter services and fixed wing domestic and international scheduled passenger services, air charter and third party aircraft operations, largely in support of Nigeria's extensive oil and gas industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Nigeria</span> Former national airline of Nigeria

Air Nigeria was the national flag carrier of Nigeria, which operated scheduled regional and domestic passenger services. The airline's base was Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, its head office was in Lagos Island, Lagos, and its registered office was in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Kabo Air is a Nigerian charter airline headquartered in Kano, Kano State and based at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigeria Airways</span> Defunct airline (1958–2003)

Nigeria Airways Ltd., more commonly known as Nigeria Airways, was a one-time Nigerian airline. The company was founded in 1958 after the dissolution of West African Airways Corporation (WAAC). It held the name West African Airways Corporation Nigeria until 1971, when it was renamed, until it ceased operations in 2003. The government of Nigeria owned a majority of the airline (51%) until 1961, when it boosted its shareholding in the company to 100% and made it the country's flag carrier. At the time of dissolution, the airline's headquarters were at Airways House in Abuja. Operations were concentrated at Murtala Muhammed International Airport and served both domestic and international destinations mainly concentrated in West Africa; the network also had points in Europe, North America and Saudi Arabia. The airline was managed by a number of foreign companies, including British Airways, KLM and South African Airways.

As of December 2024, a total of 64 Boeing 747 aircraft, or just above 4% of the total number of 747s built, first flown commercially in 1970, have been involved in accidents and incidents resulting in a hull loss, meaning that the aircraft was either destroyed or damaged beyond economical repair. Of the 64 Boeing 747 aircraft losses, 32 resulted in no loss of life; in one, a hostage was murdered; and in one, a terrorist died.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okada Air</span> Defunct Nigerian airline

Okada Air was an airline based in Benin City, Nigeria. The carrier was established in 1983 with a fleet of BAC-One Eleven 300s. and started charter operations in September the same year. In 1984, a Boeing 707-355C was acquired for cargo operations. By 1990, ten BAC One-Elevens were bought, and eight more were acquired in 1991. The company was granted the right of operating international flights in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akwa Ibom Airport</span> Airport in Nigeria

Victor Attah International Airport, is an airport serving Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. The airport is 24 kilometres (15 mi) Southeast of Uyo, and 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of the river port of Oron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Air</span> Airline company in Nigeria

Max Air is a Nigerian airline operating domestic and international flights. Established in 2008 by Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, the company's head office is located in Kano State with its base at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azman Air</span> Airline company in Nigeria

Azman Air Services Limited is a Nigerian-based domestic airline company. Established in 2010 by businessman Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, the airline operates scheduled domestic passenger services with its main base in Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

Air Peace Limited is a private Nigerian airline founded in 2013 with its head office in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, and the largest airline of Nigeria and West Africa. Air Peace, which provides passenger and charter services, serves the major cities of Nigeria and flies to several West African destinations and the Middle East. The airline also established a subsidiary, Air Peace Hopper, in 2018.

Cally Air is a Nigerian airline owned by the Cross River State Government. The flights of the airline are operated by Aero Contractors.

References

  1. ↑ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International . 27 March 2007. p. 77.
  2. ↑ "New aircraft to make arik air the largest commercial carrier in nigeria arik air reflects on six months of flying “the new experience” Archived 23 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine ." Arik Air. 28 March 2007. Archived from Retrieved on 8 September 2010. "For more information, please contact: Gbemiga Ogunieye, Head of Communications, Arik Air Ltd, Arik Air Aviation Centre, Murtula Muhammed Domestic Airport, PO Box 10468, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria."
  3. ↑ "La conquête éclair d'Arik Air – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  4. ↑ "About Arik Air." Arik Air. 15 June 2006. Retrieved on 3 December 2010.
  5. ↑ "Notice of Action Taken re: Arik Air Limited". U.S. Department of Transportation. 4 April 2008.
  6. ↑ "Arik Air's First Flight to London Heathrow a Success". Arik Air. 15 December 2008. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  7. ↑ Arik Air arrives in Johannesburg Archived 15 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine , Arik Air, 2 June 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  8. ↑ Arik makes historic flight into New York, Vanguard (Nigerian newspaper), dd. 1 December 2009
  9. ↑ http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=eco_article&id_article=69866%5B‍%5D
  10. ↑ "Arik Air reaches milestone carrying 5 millionth passenger during summer period". African Aviation. 10 September 2010. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Media centre | Arik Air Official Website". www.arikair.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  12. ↑ "Nigeria's Arik Air cancels domestic flights". BBC News. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  13. ↑ "Nigeria's Arik Air resumes flight operations today". Nigeria Vanguard. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  14. ↑ "Boeing: Arik Air Buys Boeing 777s and 787s". Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  15. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ↑ Boeing 747-8#Orders and deliveries
  17. 1 2 Nigeria’s Arik Air switches Boeing 747-8s with 787-9s, accessed 28 January 2017
  18. ↑ "Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 29 August 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  19. ↑ Arik Air suspends flights to London, Johannesburg Archived 15 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine , accessed 15 February 2017
  20. ↑ AMCON appoints KPMG to audit Arik Air Archived 16 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine , accessed 15 February 2017
  21. ↑ guardian.ng - Arik Air gets better, says AMCON 26 February 2017
  22. ↑ "Will Arik Air merge to survive?". www.africanaerospace.aero. African Aerospace. 4 December 2020. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  23. ↑ "Arik, Aero May Merge for Business Survival". THISDAYLIVE. 4 December 2020. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  24. ↑ "Aero Contractors React To Merger Plan With Arik Air". Business News in Nigeria. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  25. ↑ "As NG Eagle Berths". THISDAYLIVE. 22 January 2021. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  26. ↑ "Arik Air set to be rebranded; renamed Nigeria Eagle". Nigerian Flight Deck. 10 September 2020. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  27. ↑ "Africa: Nigerian airline, Arik Air, set for national carrier status, may transform to Nigeria Eagle". ATQ News. 10 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  28. ↑ "AMCON denies 'rebranding' Arik says it wants to create independent entity". Nigerian Flight Deck. 11 September 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  29. 1 2 boeing.com - Orders & Deliveries retrieved 23 June 2019
  30. ↑ "Arik Air Reacts After 'Smoking' Plane Makes Emergency Landing". Channels TV. 9 March 2018.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Arik Air at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.