Kaduna Turn-Around

Future Pilots

Children visit the cockpit of an Arik CRJ-900 in Kaduna.   Arik sponsored 15 young NCAT students in 2007.  I’m trying to gather some information regarding their status, but it’s very difficult to access reliable and up-to-date info in Nigeria.  If you have any hints/leads for me (especially to contact the said 15 cadets) please contact me.

Advantages of Expedited IOSA Certification to Arik Air

It has been circulating around news agencies that a Nigerian airline (not Arik Air) has been re-certified by the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), affirming its capacity to conduct flight and ground operations to international standards.

This brings to light the question of why Arik Air, the largest Nigerian airline with a modern fleet and wide domestic and international network, is not yet IOSA-certified. Possible reasons include the relative young age of the airline (just over three years old) and “teething challenges”.

In any case, an early certification can offers Arik Air numerous advantages including:

1- Membership in IATA (International Air Transport Association)
2- Universally accepted safety procedures and systems including proper documentation
3- Broader access to international code-share and partnership opportunities (Joining a global alliance is an example), giving Arik passengers a wider coverage directly from Nigeria
4- Audit reductions and cost-savings
5- Increased efficiency in operations and management systems

According to IATA’s website, there are over 310 IOSA-certified airlines globally, including 18 in Africa.

It is hoped that Arik Air will heed the calls of this blog and double efforts towards IOSA certification. The readiness of Nigerian aviation would be enhanced.

Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide Takes The Helm of Arik

Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide was appointed Group Chief Executive at Arik Air, effective December 21st. He previously served as Executive Director and founded Arik Air International, based in London, which provides strategic and HR consultancy to Arik Air. It will be interesting to see what major announcements are made to coincide with this appointment. Already, there is talk of “major changes” coming soon in the way of “Wings of Nigeria”.  An aircraft order perhaps?

Arik “Turboprofits” from Bombardier Dash-8-400!

By: GlobalFlyer (Regular contributor)

After some unexplained delays, Arik Air has finally taken delivery of two of four ordered, Canadian-built Bombardier Dash 8-Q400s, seating 72 passengers in a two-class layout.  Following their certification by regulatory authorities (and “proving flights” by the NCAA), the aircraft have entered commercial service on several routes including Lagos-Kaduna/Benin/Ilorin.

Top picture author: Nino Buda (airliners.net)

Passengers will notice these aircraft to be much more comfortable than other turboprops flown by Arik (Dash 8-300’s and Fokker 50’s wet-leased and operated by Denim Air of Holland on behalf of Arik).  The –Q400 will cut-short flight times as it is considerably faster at cruise altitude (670 Km/hr or 360 Kt), reduce cabin noise to jet-like conditions (Boeing 737 levels) and reduce the effects of turbulence, among others.  In other words, passengers will feel as if they were flying a jet airliner.

Arik is likely to profit immensely from these aircraft, as they are owned and operated by Arik Air flight and cabin crew, saving on expensive wet-leasing arrangements with Denim Air.  Furthermore, the Dash 8-400 has a very low operating cost per seat in the regional aircraft market particularly on short routes of 400 nautical miles or less.  This means Arik Air is probably able to break-even on most of its Nigerian routes with fewer than 36 passengers onboard the 72-seater aircraft.

I would think that these aircraft are also well-positioned to fly profitably on new international, short-haul routes (Lagos-Malabo/Lome/Yaounde/Kumasi/Sao Tome), serving the airline’s growth plans.  Arik already expressed its intent to serve some of these markets.

I am curious to know why the order for this type is limited to four (4) air frames.  Denim Air operates 3 Fokker 50s and 3 Dash 8-300s for Arik and I would assume these will eventually be returned to the lessor and replaced with Arik Air metal.  If I factor in the Denim Air replacements and a couple of additional Dash 8-Q400s for international routes, this would add up to a requirement of 12 Dash 8-Q400s, without taking growth forecasts into account! Only Arik Air management can answer this.

Basic Tech Specifications of the Dash-8-400

Max. cruise speed: 667 km/hr
Range: 2522 km
Length: 32.8 m
Height (to top of horizontal tail): 8.3 m
Fuselage diameter: 2.69 m
Cabin length: 18.8m
Max. takeoff weight: 29,260 kg
Engine type: 2 PW150A

First Arik Air review on Arikmetics! Future reviews will be summarized

Route: Lagos-London Heathrow
“I flew the Arik Air flight to London last Sunday and it was a good flight, nice plane, professional staff, however the boarding could be more efficient, 15 min delay”
-Goodwill Enahoro

Company Tour

…AS 2009 DRAWS TO A CLOSE

2009 was a busy year for Arik Air. Thanks to Anthony for the below photos.

Aircraft parked in Lagos

Sunset in Benin

Evacuation training on Boeing 737

CRJ-900 and Airbus A340-500 parked on the international apron, Lagos

School children in Kaduna visiting the airport and Arik CRJ-900

3 CRJ-900's on the maintenance ramp, Lagos

Check-in facilities of Arik Air in London, early 2009

Entrance to Arik Air's maintenance hangar in Lagos

Hallelujah! Over 40 Additional Flights through Christmas…

…GETTING IT 1/2 RIGHT

Personally, I predict passengers will be truly jubilating when the issue of inadequate terminal facilities in Lagos is addressed and approached with a sense urgency. The GAT Terminal, from which Arik operates, is both outdated and under-sized!   It is not in par with the image which Arik aims to project. It is sincerely hoped that all the parties involved (Arik, FAAN, and Bi-Courtney) will work together to upgrade facilities as soon as possible.

Arik Girls…

Cabin is ready for boarding....The 737-700 (5N-MJH) flight is from Benin City to Abuja.

Arik Air Adds Uyo to Domestic Network

…PROVIDES FIRST COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS AT THE NEW UYO AIRPORT

Crew line up after landing in Uyo

Arik appears relentless in spreading its wings to as many domestic destinations as possible.  Akwa Ibom state’s pride in opening its new airport near Uyo could not have come at a better time when Arik has demonstrated a willingness to develop new routes to Nigeria’s hinterland.  For Arik and a few other daring airlines, this implies running at an initial loss while keeping in mind the long-term benefits of cementing the airline’s presence in various points around the country.  It is not clear whether the Akwa Ibom State Government is subsidizing  Arik’s flights (It is not uncommon in Nigeria for State Governments to buy blocks of seats on flights to their respective airports.   This, they argue, is a means to encourage airlines to develop routes and hence contribute to regional economic development).

Water cannon salute by Uyo Airport's fire brigade

After a long and turbulent project history, the new Akwa Ibom International Airport (AKIA) received its first scheduled flights on 2 December 2009 when Arik Air launched daily flights to Abuja and Lagos, both operated by the Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft.  Equipped with a CAT II landing facility, one of Africa’s longest runways (3600 M) and able to accommodate the new Airport A380 double-decker, the new Akwa Ibom International Airport (AKIA) is the primary tool devised by the state to ‘create hub of economic activities in and around the airport, and greatly enhance the air cargo transport needs of the regional market.’

Uyo's 18-hole Meridien golf course and hotel - Akwa Ibom hopes to transform Uyo into a regional tourism and commercial hub

The state is mainly referring initially to a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) center which is currently under construction and which it intends to operate under a PPP arrangement (Public-Private Partnership).  The facility, the first of its kind in Nigeria and able to service two Boeing 747 Jumbos simultaneously, is planning to provide A, B, C and D checks to airlines’ fleet of aircraft and is expected to be ready by September 2010.

What remains to be seen, however, is which private sector company operates the MRO facility.  Arik Air has already announced its intent to build a maintenance superhangar but its location remains unclear.  Also, it remains to be seen whether the new flights to AKIA will affect Arik’s traffic figures out of Calabar’s Margaret Ekpo International Airport, which is roughly 50 Kms away.  Meanwhile, Arik’s flight schedules to Uyo are well timed to connect passengers smoothly in Lagos and Abuja to onward destinations such as New York, Dakar and Johannesburg.

Uyo terminal and ramp bird's eye view

Check-in counters used by Arik Air

Arrival of the first commercial flight in Uyo, operated by Arik Air

Gas production is expected to provide a crucial engine for economic growth in the Akwa Ibom/Cross River region, and therefore Arik is likely to benefit as passenger numbers and cargo uplift relating to the Oil and Gas industry increase.