Plans have reached an advanced stage by Arik Air to commence flight operations from its base at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos to Bauchi Airport.
The airline in a statement by Mr. Banji Ola, its spokesman said that the flight services would commence on May 9, 2018.
Ola said that the airline would operate three weekly flights from Abuja to Bauchi with connections to and from Lagos on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Ola quoted Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, the Chief Executive Officer of the airline as saying that the flight service was borne out of the importance attached to Bauchi State as the ‘Pearl of Tourism’ in Nigeria and underscores the airline’s commitment to the growth of tourism in the country.
He said: “Arik Air has always been at the forefront of the development of aviation and tourism in Nigeria. We are committed to the opening up of the country to commerce and industry through air connectivity.
“Our plan is to connect all viable airports in Nigeria so as to expand the frontiers of commerce and grow the economy.”
With the launch of the route, Bauchi would become Arik Air’s 20th destination in Nigeria, which further placed the airline as the leading carrier in the country.
