Arik Air Explained

Airline:Arik Air
Fleet Size:14
Destinations:16
Iata:W3
Icao:ARA
Callsign:ARIK AIR
Parent:Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria
Founded:2002
Commenced:30 October 2006
Headquarters:Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria
Key People:Capt. Roy Ilegbodu
Hubs:
Focus Cities:Kotoka International Airport
Frequent Flyer:Arik Affinity Wings

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.

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

As of November 2022, the Arik Air fleet consists of the following aircraft:[29]

Arik Air fleet
AircraftIn serviceOrdersPassengersNotes
CYTotal
Boeing 737-7004—12112124
12119131
—149149
Boeing 737-8003—16 132148
Boeing 737 MAX 8—8[30] TBA
—9TBA2 orders converted from Boeing 747-8Is
Bombardier CRJ9003—106575
De Havilland Dash 8-4004—106272
Total1417

Former fleet

Arik Air previously operated the following aircraft:[31]

Arik Air historical fleet
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Airbus A330-200420102017
Airbus A340-500220092015Operated by Hi Fly.
Bombardier CRJ200ER320072008
De Havilland Canada DHC-8-300320072010
Fokker 50520072011

Incidents and accidents

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Directory: World Airlines . . 77 . 27 March 2007.
  2. "New aircraft to make arik air the largest commercial carrier in nigeria arik air reflects on six months of flying “the new experience” ." 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. Web site: La conquête éclair d'Arik Air – Jeune Afrique . 2022-10-27 . JeuneAfrique.com . fr-FR.
  4. "About Arik Air." Arik Air. 15 June 2006. Retrieved on 3 December 2010.
  5. Web site: Notice of Action Taken re: Arik Air Limited . . 4 April 2008.
  6. Web site: Arik Air's First Flight to London Heathrow a Success. Arik Air. 28 November 2011. 15 December 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20120523040855/http://www.arikair.com/us/MEDIA-CENTRE/Press-Releases/Press-Release-Archives/2008-Archive/Arik-Air-s-First-Flight-to-London-Heathrow-A-Succe.aspx. 23 May 2012. dead.
  7. http://www.arikair.com/us/MEDIA-CENTRE/Press-Releases/Press-Release-Archives/2009-Archive/Arik-Air-arrives-in-Johannesburg,-South-Africa.aspx Arik Air arrives in Johannesburg
  8. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/12/01/arik-makes-historic-flight-into-new-york/ Arik makes historic flight into New York
  9. http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=eco_article&id_article=69866{{dead link|date=November 2011}}
  10. Web site: Arik Air reaches milestone carrying 5 millionth passenger during summer period . African Aviation . 9 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120425052257/http://www.african-aviation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=500:airline-reaches-milestone-carrying-5-millionth-passenger-during-summer-period&catid=16:africa . 25 April 2012 . 10 September 2010 . dead .
  11. Web site: Media centre Arik Air Official Website. www.arikair.com. 2017-08-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20120925010349/http://www.arikair.com/ng/MEDIA-CENTRE/Press-Releases/Arik-Air-reaches-10-millionth-passenger-milestone.aspx. 25 September 2012. dead.
  12. News: Nigeria's Arik Air cancels domestic flights. 22 September 2012. BBC News. 20 September 2012.
  13. News: Nigeria's Arik Air resumes flight operations today. 23 September 2012. Nigeria Vanguard. 23 September 2012.
  14. Web site: Boeing: Arik Air Buys Boeing 777s and 787s . 29 November 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130603122048/http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2007/q2/070426e_pr.html . 3 June 2013 . dead .
  15. Web site: Archived copy . 18 April 2014 . 28 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180928195003/http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/displaystandardreport.cfm?cboCurrentModel=747&optReportType=AllModels&cboAllModel=747&ViewReportF=View+Report . dead .
  16. [Boeing 747-8#Orders and deliveries]
  17. http://atwonline.com/aircraft-orders-deliveries/nigeria-s-arik-air-switches-boeing-747-8s-787-9s Nigeria’s Arik Air switches Boeing 747-8s with 787-9s
  18. Web site: Premium Times Nigeria. Premium Times Nigeria. en-GB. 2017-08-29.
  19. https://www.today.ng/business/transport/259685/arik-suspends-flights-london-johannesburg Arik Air suspends flights to London, Johannesburg
  20. https://www.today.ng/business/transport/259272/amcon-appoints-kpmg-audit-arik-air AMCON appoints KPMG to audit Arik Air
  21. https://guardian.ng/news/arik-air-gets-better-says-amcon/ guardian.ng - Arik Air gets better, says AMCON
  22. Web site: 2020-12-04. Will Arik Air merge to survive?. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201204160300/https://www.africanaerospace.aero/will-arik-air-merge-to-survive-.html . 4 December 2020 . 2021-01-28. www.africanaerospace.aero. African Aerospace.
  23. Web site: 2020-12-04. Arik, Aero May Merge for Business Survival. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201204035400/https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/12/04/arik-aero-may-merge-for-business-survival/ . 4 December 2020 . 2021-01-28. THISDAYLIVE.
  24. Web site: 2020-12-06. Aero Contractors React To Merger Plan With Arik Air. 2021-01-28. Business News in Nigeria.
  25. Web site: 2021-01-22. As NG Eagle Berths. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122205436/https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/01/22/as-ng-eagle-berths/ . 22 January 2021 . 2021-01-28. THISDAYLIVE.
  26. Web site: 2020-09-10. Arik Air set to be rebranded; renamed Nigeria Eagle. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200910211956/https://nigerianflightdeck.com/arik-air-set-to-be-rebranded-renamed-nigeria-eagle/ . 10 September 2020 . 2021-01-28. Nigerian Flight Deck.
  27. Web site: 2020-09-10. Africa: Nigerian airline, Arik Air, set for national carrier status, may transform to Nigeria Eagle. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200928043435/https://atqnews.com/africa-nigerian-airline-arik-air-set-for-national-carrier-status-may-transform-to-nigeria-eagle/ . 28 September 2020 . 2021-01-28. ATQ News.
  28. Web site: 2020-09-11. AMCON denies 'rebranding' Arik says it wants to create independent entity. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919100904/https://nigerianflightdeck.com/amcon-denies-rebranding-arik-says-it-wants-to-create-independent-entity/ . 19 September 2020 . 2021-01-28. Nigerian Flight Deck.
  29. https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Arik-Air planespotters.net - Arik Air
  30. http://www.boeing.com/commercial/#/orders-deliveries boeing.com - Orders & Deliveries
  31. airfleets.net - Arik Air Fleet
  32. Web site: Arik Air Reacts After 'Smoking' Plane Makes Emergency Landing . Channels TV . 9 March 2018.

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