Nigeria’s privately-owned airline Arik Air is set to launch its Lagos-London flight 1 December 2008, the airline said in a statement on Saturday. According to the statement, the airline has been given five extra slots to fly to Heathrow in London. The airline, which is marking its second anniversary, will operate six flights a week on the route, using a brand new Airbus A340-500, which is expected to be delivered to the airline this month. Arik Air, regarded as the fastest-growing commercial airline in Nigeria, started operations on 30 October 2006 with three brand new Bombardier CRJ900. The company currently has a fleet of 18 aircraft. Two other Nigerian airlines, the flag career Virgin Nigeria and the private Bell view Airlines, also fly the lucrative Lagos-London route.
