International Safety Awards, Passenger Milestones and an Expanded Global Network Provide Arik Air With Another Successful Year

NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arik Air, West and Central Africa's largest commercial airline has achieved significant industry success in 2012 ranging from an expansion of its regional African network to awards for security and safety. In addition, this Fall Arik Air flew its 10-millioneth passenger, a landmark achievement in the airline's short history.

At the 9th Annual Security Watch Africa Awards held in the Ghana, Arik Air won the award for the Best Security and Safety Conscious Airline in West and Central Africa for the second consecutive year. Arik Air was given the award based on the airline's commitment to high standards of security and safety in its operations, as well as compliance to the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO's) standard for aviation operations internationally.  

"Flying with an airline that places security and safety as a top priority is of paramount importance for all passengers, and this is especially the case for passengers flying across the Atlantic and on the African continent. We have invested heavily in safety and security ranging from premium international standard equipment to high level training and certification of security personnel. We do this to ensure a quality experience for all of our passengers, and to be recognized for our  security and safety standards is fantastic" said Robert Brunner, Vice President America's Arik Air.

Due to the continued demand for a premier airline across West and Central Africa, Arik Air has expanded its regional network for the second time in 2012. On Wednesday December 5th, the airline began flying from Lagos, Nigeria to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), operating twice weekly on Wednesday and Sunday. Kinshasa is now Arik Air's third destination in Central Africa following the inclusion of flights to Luanda, Angola in 2011 and Douala, Cameroun earlier this year.

In further news that demonstrates the popularity and demand for the airline, Arik Air flew its 10-millioneth passenger in September on its Johannesburg to Lagos route, a landmark milestone for an airline that only began operating in 2006. In 2012 alone Arik Air flew over 1.5 million passengers across its expanding network of 20 domestic, 11 regional and three long-haul destinations spanning from Lagos to New York JFK, London's Heathrow and Johannesburg's OR Tambo.

"Despite a few challenges, 2012 has been a very good year for us" said Robert Brunner Vice President America's Arik Air. "The expansion of our regional network and the carrying of ten million passengers in less than six years is a remarkable achievement for Arik Air, and further underlines our status as Africa's fastest growing airline. We are especially delighted to have achieved the milestone in passengers on one of our three long-haul routes, which remain an important focus for us in expanding our global network over the next few years".

In 2011 Arik Air became an official member of IATA. The airline is the only West African airline with USA/Federal Aviation Administration accreditation allowing it to operate its own flights directly into the US.

For further information contact:
C Moore Media, International Public Relations
Claudine Moore
T. 646 489 6632
E. Claudine@cmooremedia.com

About Arik Air

Arik Air is West and Central Africa's largest airline, and operates mainly from two hubs at Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja. It operates a fleet of 23 state-of-the art regional, medium haul and long haul aircrafts including two Airbus A340-500 making the airline the first operator of this particular type of wide-bodied aircraft in Africa. The airline currently serves 20 destinations in Nigeria and flies to 11 international destinations including London Heathrow (UK) and New York JFK (USA). The airline operates a combined number of over 120 daily flights from its hubs, and has been Africa's fastest growing airline for the last two years.

Website: www.arikair.com

About C.Moore Media

C. Moore Media (CMM) is a boutique international public relations and communications consultancy specializing in corporate communications, media relations, strategy, and branding in the US general, and multicultural markets. CMM also specializes in raising the international awareness and visibility of organizations and initiatives in emerging markets (Africa). The company is headquartered in New York, and founder Claudine Moore has received many business awards including: The Network Journals '40 under Forty' US Achievement Award (2011), and honored on the prestigious UK PowerList: Britain's Top 100 Most Influential Black People (2010)


Website: www.cmooremedia.com Twitter:@CMooreMedia

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