A management team from Arik Air is scheduled to meet with officials of aircraft manufacturing giant, Boeing Corporation of United States next month to discuss issues of mutual interest.
The Airlines’ Media Officer, Mr. Adebanji Ola, who said this in a statement on Friday stated that the meeting would among others discuss the configuration of the Boeing 777 aircraft ordered by the airline.

Following the fleet renewal policy in the industry, the airline has ordered for two B777-200LR and three B777-300ER aircraft due for delivery in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

According to the statement, the chairman of the airline, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Johnson, who is expected to lead the team to US, said it was proposing four-class seat configurations of presidential class, first class, business class and economy class for the new aircraft. He disclosed that when delivered, the aircraft would be deployed to the airline’s long haul routes. Already, the airline has been granted approval by the US. Department of Transportation to commence direct commercial flights into the US.

However, the airline will be expected to operate the scheduled commercial flight into the U.S. using only a wet leased aircraft from a duly authorized and properly supervised U.S. or foreign air carrier.This arrangement will subsist until Nigeria attains the Category One Status which will enable Arik Air and other designated Nigerian carriers fly into the U.S with their own aircraft.