Abuja, Nigeria - Nigeria has approved one of the country's private airlines, Arik, to fly its flag on the Abuja-Istanbul route beginning from June this year, Minister of Aviation Fidelia Njeze said Thursday. The development follows new negotiations in Istanbul on the existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed between Nigeria and Turkey, where President Goodluck Jonathan is current on a three-day official visit.

“By June this year, to be precise, the Nigeria side of the BASA would come into play. Good enough, Arik is now collaborating with Turkish Airline in that aspect. And by June, Arik will start flying from Nigeria to Turkey and that would now fulfil the Nigerian aspect of the BASA,” she told journalists in Istanbul, according a statement from the Nigerian presidency.

Before now, Turkey was the only beneficiary of the BASA arrangement, with Turkish Airline operating flights into the main gateway Murtala Mohhammed International Airport (MMIA) in  Lagos thrice weekly.

Arik Chair John Arumemi-Johson later said he was elated that his airline was selected to fly the Istanbul route and assured Nigerians of the airlines competence to deliver on its objectives.

Pana 04/02/2011