Arik Air is to launch flights from Nigeria to the Ivorian city of Abidjan via Cotonou in the Benin Republic from February 16.
The new service will operate four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
On Mondays, the outbound flight will depart the Murtala Muhammed International airport, Lagos at 14:45 (all times local) and arrive at Cotonou International Airport at 15:15.
The flight then leaves Cotonou at 16:00 and arrives at Felix Houphouet Boigny International airport, Abidjan at 16:20
The inbound flight departs Abidjan at 17:05 and arrives in Cotonou at 19:25. The flight then leaves Cotonou at 20:10 and arrives in Lagos at 20:40.
On Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, the outbound flight departs Lagos at 11:15 and arrives in Cotonou at 11:45.
It will then leave Cotonou at 12:30 to arrive in Abidjan at 12:50. Inbound flight departs Abidjan at 13:35 and arrives in Cotonou at 15:55. The flight departs Cotonou at 16:40 to arrive in Lagos at 17:10.
The new Lagos-Abidjan service will be operated using Arik Air’s Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft configured to carry 10 business class and 64 economy class passengers.
Arik Air’s managing director and executive VP, Chris Ndulue, said: “Abidjan is a preferred destination for Nigerian businessmen and women. Arik Air’s foray into this commercial city will make life a lot easier for our guests who have been yearning for flight connection between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire. This service will further underline Arik Air’s position as West Africa’s premier airline,” he said.
The Lagos-Abidjan service is Arik Air’s first new route in 2015. Abidjan thus becomes Arik Air’s 7 destination in West Africa.