Abuja — AVIAREPS has been commissioned by Nigeria's largest commercial airline, Arik Air as its external representation company in the United States of America and Canada. Both companies have signed a GSA agreement for the North American markets with AVIAREPS, the world's leading international representation company handling all future sales, trade marketing and ticketing activities on behalf of Arik Air. All operations will be performed by the AVIAREPS team in New York, headed by Eric Pechstein, general manager of North America.

With this sales agreement, Arik Air continues its rapid expansion by embarking on its third long-haul international route from its hub in Lagos. In the space of 12 months, Arik has launched flights to London and Johannesburg.

On 30th November, 2009, Arik will launch its first service from the United States to Nigeria, with three-weekly services scheduled from New York City (JFK) to Lagos on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, departing JFK T4 at 2200 and arriving in Lagos at 1440. Returning flights depart from Lagos on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 2320 and arrive at JFK at 0550.

Arik Air currently offers connections to 18 points within Nigeria as well as Ghana, Benin, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Senegal and South Africa on the continent. The privately owned airline was officially incepted in 2006 as a domestic airline aiming to transform the Nigerian aviation sector by bringing brand new planes and an unrivalled in-flight service to the people of the country and beyond.

The company has secured the rights to fly to other international destinations, including Houston, Paris, Beijing and Dubai, as well as planning to open new routes throughout the African continent to countries stretching from Egypt, Kenya and Angola.

The Nigerian airline is committed to maintaining a safe working and flying environment and to conduct all operations strictly within the requirements of laws regarding safety. To this end, it has Lufthansa Technik as its aircraft maintenance partner in Lagos and Iberia in New York. It has also implemented a safety programme to minimise the possibility of accidents, with this programme having been developed and provided by the Nigerian Corporate Safety and Security Department.