9 facts about Arik Air

Arik Air is a privately and wholly Nigerian owned commercial airline operating a domestic, regional and international flight network mainly from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

On Tuesday, September 13, the airline confirmed that it is suspending flight operation due to its inability to immediately renew its aircraft insurance.

READ ALSO: First Nation Airways to resume operations soon

Arik Air is joining First Nation airways, Aero Contractors, to shut down flight operations in Nigeria in the last three weeks.

Here are 9 facts about West Africa's former leading airline:

1. The airline is wholly owned by Ojemai Investments.

2. Arik Air took over the former Nigeria Airways facilities in Lagos on 3 April 2006. 

3.Arik on June 14 2006, took delivery of 2 new Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft to fly domestic routes throughout Nigeria and within the African continent from Summer 2006, 2 ex-United Airlines Boeing 737–300s and 3 50 seat Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft.

4. The Federal Ministry of Aviation in August 2006, granted Arik Air authorisation to fly to Trinidad and Tobago and Amsterdam, London and Madrid in Europe. It started international operations to London-Heathrowon 15 December 2008, using an Airbus A340-500 aircraft damp-leased from Hi Fly.

5. A subsidiary airline called Arik Niger (IATA code: Q9) commenced operations in April 2009, but was shut down in February 2010.

6. Arik Air began flight operations to Calabar on November 15, 2006 while services to Benin City and Enugu started on January 7, 2007.

READ ALSO: Arik Air stops all flight operations

7. On 4 April 2008, Arik Air was given permission to fly to the United States by the US Department of Transportation.

8. Arik Air had placed an order for five Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which was cancelled in 2011.

9.The airline on September 20, 2012, canceled all its domestic operations after aviation officials raided the airline's office in Lagos.

Source: Legit.ng