Arik Air Suspends Abuja, Nigeria – London, Heathrow Route

Nigeria’s major carrier, Arik air has announced that effective March 25, , it would suspend its daily service between the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and London, Heathrow Terminal 4.

The airline said it was compelled to suspend its services on the route following the inability of the UK and Nigerian governments to come to agreeable terms on the 2008 Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).

Under the terms of the BASA Arik Air was allocated seven frequencies per week in respect of the Lagos/ London, Heathrow service and seven per week for the Abuja/ London, Heathrow service.

The total of 14 frequencies is out of 21 available for Nigerian carriers under the BASA.

However, an anomaly exists between access to slots in the respective countries with the Nigerian government matching the allocation of slots with frequencies,  therefore giving UK carriers unfettered access to its full complement of 21 slots at Abuja and Lagos airports.

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