Arik affirms strong partnership with Emirates Airlines

Nigerian’s flag carrier airline, Arik has re-affirmed its partnership with Emirates Airline in view of their recent decision to suspend their Abuja service.

Emirates last week disclosed of its plans to stop services to Abuja following issues related to trapped funds and other sundry issues that have seriously impacted its operations.

Early this year, the carrier took a far reaching decision  to stop its second air services to Lagos, citing same issue. The airline now operates seven frequencies to just Lagos from Dubai its hub.

There are indications also that many international airlines could stop operations to Abuja from their bases due to the harsh economic realities.

To clarify some of the misinformation in the press and among the public, Arik Air’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Mr. Suraj Sundaram said “Arik Air and Emirates have a long standing partnership through an interline agreement since 2011 which enables Emirates passengers to have access to the entire Arik Air network for connections to and from within Nigerian destinations and to other West African countries.

This means Arik Air will be able to assist with accommodating Emirates passengers from various Nigerian destinations (including Abuja) and other West African markets to Lagos on Arik Air’s flights for onward connection to the Emirates service from Lagos to Dubai.”

He explained that Arik Air’s interline agreement with Emirates Airline increases the travel choices for customers from Nigeria and West Africa to travel to various global destinations offered by the Emirates network.

Such partnership, he said also allows Emirates passengers to tap into Arik Air’s strong network that currently serves 18 destinations in Nigeria and 10 West and Central African destinations.