Nigerian airline, Arik Air has announced the launch of services to its second long haul international destination, Johannesburg, South Africa. The airline's new daily non-stop service between Lagos and Johannesburg will commence on 1 June 2009.

Arik Air will provide competition to South African Airways (SAA) which has had the route to itself since Virgin Nigeria stopped its service earlier in the year.

In announcing the new flights, Arik Air's managing director, Mike McTighe explained: "This is a particularly exciting development for all travellers between Lagos and Johannesburg. Our service will be operated by a newly acquired Airbus A340-500 aircraft. This allows us to offer our on-board guests the very highest levels of in-flight service."

McTighe added: "The airline's first A340-500 is proving popular on the daily service between Lagos and London Heathrow. This second new airbus is configured in the same spacious layout, with 36 seats in premier class and 201 seats in economy class."

Flights will depart Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport each evening at 21:35 local time and arrive into Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport at 04:50 the following morning. The return flight will depart Johannesburg every afternoon at 13:45 local time, arriving back into Lagos at 19:00 local time on the same day.

As with the launch of all Arik Air's new routes, the airline's team has undertaken considerable planning and research. McTighe pointed out: "The lead-up to the launch of Johannesburg is no different. We are very much aware of the strong economic and cultural links that Nigeria and South Africa maintain. We also know that strong business links unite the cities of Lagos and Johannesburg in particular. Our new Arik Air service is a direct response to the requirements of the various segments of the marketplace."

Arik Air is confident that its flight timings on the new route will prove popular with its rapidly expanding customer base in Nigeria. McTighe said he was confident that the schedule would also prove popular with the airline's future customers in South Africa. "In addition, the timings of the flights will make it easier for customers to connect to and from several domestic points within each country, especially within Nigeria since Arik Air already offers an extensive domestic flight network," he stressed.