TheCable

Arik Air  has signed a code share agreement with Dubai-based Emirates Airline, to give passengers of the Arab airline wider access to West African countries.

This is not the first partnership between the airlines.

In 2011, both entities signed an interline agreement that makes it easier for customers to access a wide range of points across Nigeria and West Africa via Arik Air’s network.

However, the new partnership between the airlines will see them develop their partnership covering areas such as code-sharing, frequent flier programmes and passenger handling.

Emirates’ senior vice president planning, aeropolitical and industry affairs, Adnan Kazim, said the airline intends to “explore the potential of code share arrangements as passenger traffic flows mature between both parties’ networks”.

This will foster investment and trade participation between Nigeria, Africa and Arab nations.

In February, a document released by Emirates stated that bilateral trade between Nigeria and the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) increased by 710 per cent over a five-year period from $106 million in 2004 (when it launched in Nigeria) to $857 million in 2009.

Speaking on the partnership, managing director of Arik Air, Chris Ndlulue, said “the invaluable cooperation between the two airlines offers a lot of synergy to both airlines in achieving their objectives”.

Arik, which has operation across Africa including London and New York, is Nigeria’s fastest-growing airline. It recently launched its scheduled flight operations from Nigeria into the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to the airline, the Lagos-Dubai route will go a long way in cutting down the huge capital flight the country loses to foreign airlines operating the country’s routes.

In the future, the airlines hope to extend their partnership to include frequent flier programmes, passenger and cargo handling.