Arik Air to Resume Abuja – London Link

Posted 30/11/2011

Nigerian carrier Arik Air is to resume flights between Abuja and London Heathrow from December 12 following a six week hiatus, due to slot related issues in the UK gateway.  The carrier had been forced to suspend its operation at the end of the Northern Summer 2011 schedule after failing to secure additional slots at London Heathrow. 

It launched services on the route in November 2009 and had previously rented a pair of daily slots from bmi British Midland International, according to local newspaper reports, but had been unwilling to continue the arrangement when the cost was increased.  The airline simply says the closure was due to “a number of extraneous factors”.

Arik Air will offer a daily operation on the route, complementing its existing Lagos – London Heathrow route and plans to use a Boeing 737-800 on the flight configured with 16 Business Class and 126 Economy seats.  It had previously offered five flights per week between the destinations.

“We are delighted to offer an alternative service on the Abuja – London, Heathrow route again,” said Dr Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, Group CEO and President, Arik Air.  “We fully intended on flying the route again and we are glad that we have been able to fulfill this intention before the end of the year and we thank the respective governments for coming to agreeable terms which increases the capacity now and in to and out of Nigeria.”

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