Arik Air managing director Chris Ndlulue, left, signs with Adnan Kazim of Emirates

Emirates and Arik Air, West Africa’s leading airline, have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and expand their existing commercial relationship and explore further areas of co-operation.

Emirates and Arik Air currently have a one-way interline agreement, whereby Emirates passengers are connected throughout Nigeria and West Africa via Arik Air’s current domestic and regional network.

The deal was signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates divisional senior vice president, planning, aeropolitical and industry affairs, and Chris Ndlulue, Arik Air’s managing director, at Emirates Group headquarters in Dubai.

“Both Emirates and Arik Air have expressed interest in exploring ways to expand on our existing commercial relationship and to look at different areas in which we can cooperate that will be mutually beneficial to both airlines, including seamless connectivity for our customers on our respective networks.

“We also intend to explore the potential of code share arrangements as passenger traffic flows mature between both parties’ networks,” said Kazim.

Emirates and Arik Air will also explore other areas of cooperation for the future, including frequent flier programmes, passenger and cargo handling.

“Arik Air is delighted to partner with Emirates. Both airlines share a similar vision of convenience and safety for our customers.

“While Arik Air is happy to open its network in Nigeria and West Africa to Emirates passengers, we are excited at the vast worldwide network of Emirates being made available to Arik Air’s passengers.

“The invaluable cooperation between the two airlines offers a lot of synergy to both airlines in achieving their objectives,” added Ndlulue.

Nigerian Arik Air is the largest airline in Western and Central Africa and has developed and successfully operates an extensive domestic route network in Nigeria, and regionally across Western Africa from its twin hubs in Lagos and Abuja, and to Johannesburg in South Africa and intercontinentally to New York and to London from its Lagos hub.

Emirates is one of the world’s leading international airlines and flies to more than 140 destinations in 81 countries across six continents.

It operates the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft and Airbus A380s.