Arik Air to commence commercial flight to US
Arik Air to commence commercial flight to US, Nigerian Tribune, 4/11/08
Shola Adekola, Lagos
Thursday, April 10, 2008 AIR travellers between Nigeria and the United States of America, now have a choice as another Nigerian carrier, Arik Air, has been given approval to commence direct commercial flights to America thus becoming the third Nigerian carrier to get such approval.
The U.S. Department of Transport (DOT), in a letter to the airline dated April 4, 2008 and signed by the Director, Office of International Aviation, Paul L. Gretch, said the Nigerian flag carrier had satisfied all requirements and thus qualified to fly direct into any part of the United States.
According to the approval letter, Arik Air has been found to be operationally and financially qualified to conduct its proposed operations and is substantially owned and effectively controlled by citizens of Nigeria .
“We also note that the applicant is properly licensed by its homeland to perform the proposed services”, the letter read, noting that the basis of approval was the bilateral air service agreement between the two countries.
However, Arik Air will be expected to operate the scheduled commercial flights into the U.S. using only a wet leased aircraft from a duly authorised and properly supervised U.S. or foreign air carrier.
Arik Air had on October 29, 2007, filed an application with the U.S. DOT to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation between Lagos, Nigeria and specified U.S. points.
Some of the U.S. destinations Arik Air is expected to service are Houston , Los Angeles and Atlanta.
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