Arik Air orders two 747-8s to continue expansion as Nigeria's largest carrier

Arik Air on 06-Oct-2011 was identified as the carrier who anonymously purchased two Boeing 747-8 aircraft on 15-Jun-2011. The purchase injects life into the aircraft programme, which only has two other disclosed airline customers although Boeing has continuously said it expects the freighter variant to be far more successful than the passenger version. More important is the aircraft's affect on Nigerian aviation and cementing the position of Arik Air as the regional leader.

Arik Air says it intends to operate the B747-8s on its "key long-haul routes". Arik Air only currently operates to London Heathrow, New York JFK and Johannesburg. The carrier announced this week its intention to launch thrice weekly service to Abu Dhabi on 29-Nov-2011 with A340-500s. With London Heathrow being Nigeria's largest long-haul market, slot-constrained and facing more competition, the airport has very good chances of receiving Arik Air's B747-8 service.