While many carriers are battening down the hatches and clawing capacity back during the economic crisis, managing director of ambitious Nigerian carrier Arik Air, Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, says the airline is pressing ahead with its aggressive international expansion.

Having built a strong position in the Nigerian domestic and African regional market since launching three years ago, Arik in December launched its move onto the international stage by launching on the Lagos-London Heathrow route. London will be followed by flights from Lagos to Johannesburg in the second quarter and New York JFK flights in the third quarter as the third of its new Airbus A340-500s, an order it opportunistically took over from Indian carrier Kingfisher, arrive.

“It will take us to 11 international destinations in the next five

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