Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest carrier, has increased its flight frequencies to key domestic destinations, ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities, to cope with passenger demands.
The airline made the announcement in a statement signed by its Communications Manager, Mr Ola Adebanji, which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.
It said the decision to increase flight frequencies on the domestic routes was predicated on the need to ensure that many Nigerians are able to travel home to share the joy of the season with family and friends.
The statement said the airline had leased a wide-body A340-300 from Portugal, to supplement its wide-body fleet of two A330-200 aircraft.
According to the statement, this is to cope with the demands of its international passengers on the London Heathrow and New York JFK routes.
“Arik Air connects 18 destinations within Nigeria, 10 in West/Central Africa and three international destinations enabling the airline to bring more Nigerian families together this festive season than any other carrier.
“Instead of the average 100 daily flights normally operated, Arik Air will during the festive period increase its daily flights to an average of 120,” it said.
The statement also quoted Arik Air’s Managing Director, Mr Chris Ndulue, as saying that the Yuletide season was a period when families wish to be reunited.
“Arik Air is therefore very pleased to announce that on many of our domestic routes, the airline will be scheduling additional flights and operating larger aircraft to cater for the increasing demand,” Ndulue is quoted as saying. (NAN)