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Friday, November 23, 2012

►► CAMEROON: Arik Air to start Lagos - Douala from late August.

Arik Air[UPDATE 23 NOVEMBER 2012] Nigerian private carrier Arik Air (W3), is to launch a 3x weekly (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) service between Lagos, Nigeria and Douala, Cameroon using a Boeing 737-700, starting Thursday 30 August 2012.

Arik Air’s Executive President/Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue said of the new service:
Arik Air Boeing 737-700
An Arik Air Boeing 737-700
This is another exciting moment for us all at Arik Air launching our first new international destination in 2012. Douala is our 10th African point and the third sub-Saharan destination. The importance of Douala as Cameroon’s commercial capital and home to the country’s largest port makes it imperative for Arik Air to connect the city with Lagos which is also Nigeria’s commercial capital. Guests on the new route can, as usual, be assured of Arik Air’s highest safety and service standards.”

Arik Air: Lagos, Nigeria - Douala, Cameroon.
-Effective 30 August 2012
  • W3121 LOS 1110 - 1240 DLA 73G | 246
  • W3122 DLA 1325 - 1455 LOS 73G | 246
Source [Amadeus]

Cameroon's Camair-Co were scheduled to have started the route itself back in July, but the fact that flight bookings remain unavailable lead us to speculate that the service has yet to start.

Arik Air's expansion plans come on the back of competitor Air Nigeria's (VK) continued woes, as they have now been suspended from IATA's global Billing and Settlement Plans (BSPs) effective immediately. BSPs in each country allow travel agents to issue tickets of various carriers and paying for these tickets through IATA.

[UPDATE 23 NOVEMBER 2012] Arik Air officially launched its Lagos - Douala flight on 20 November using the above timetable.