Airline codes
W3 · ARA
IATA · ICAO · callsign “ARIK AIR”
Look for W3 in front of the number on your ticket: that prefix marks a flight sold under the Arik Air code. Enter W3 and the number to follow an Arik Air departure.
Arik Air (W3) Guide
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Airline
A practical guide to Arik Air: the network from LOS, the De Havilland Dash 8-400 and the rest of the fleet, luggage rules, check-in and cheaper fares. Ask a question
In short
Arik Air is a Nigerian airline based in Lagos, with hubs at Murtala Muhammed International and Abuja. Founded in 2002, it flies Boeing 737 and Dash 8-400 aircraft on domestic routes across Nigeria and on regional services within West Africa. It suits travellers moving between Nigerian cities. Arik Air is not in an alliance; its loyalty scheme is Arik Affinity Wings.
Arik Air is a Nigerian airline operating mainly from hubs at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. It serves domestic routes and regional destinations within Africa.
Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Arik Air. Routes, schedules, fleet and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.
What to expect
Arik Air is a Nigerian airline based at the Arik Aviation Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, with hubs at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. It suits travellers moving between Nigerian cities and on a small set of West African routes. It started flying on 30 October 2006 and grew into one of the largest carriers in West Africa before the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) took it over in 2017.
Where Arik Air flies today
Arik Air runs a domestic network from Lagos and Abuja, with Accra in Ghana as a focus city. The airline's website lists Lagos, Abuja, Ilorin, Kano, Owerri, Jos, Yola and Ibadan among its top destinations, and routes from Lagos to Asaba, Port Harcourt, Warri and Benin City. Its baggage rules also mention a Lagos, Freetown, Banjul and Dakar service.
Arik once flew long-haul. It launched London Heathrow on 15 December 2008, Johannesburg on 1 June 2009, New York JFK on 30 November 2009 and Dubai on 28 July 2014. Those routes have ended, so travellers heading to Europe, North America or the Gulf should book another airline from Lagos or Abuja.
From fast growth to AMCON control
The airline was set up by Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide after Nigeria Airways was liquidated in 2002. It flew its 5 millionth passenger on 6 August 2010 and its 10 millionth on 18 September 2012. Between April 2009 and February 2010 it also ran a sister airline, Arik Niger.
Debts grew, and in early 2017 AMCON took control, describing the airline as too big to fail. KPMG was appointed to audit the books, and the network was cut back. A planned merger with Aero Contractors under a new name, Nigeria Eagle (NG Eagle), has been reported, but Arik Air still sells tickets under its own brand.
Planning a trip with Arik Air
Domestic schedules in Nigeria change at short notice, so check your flight status before you leave for the airport. The call centre is on 0700 0035 92745 (0700 FLYARIK) and callcentre@arikair.com. Arik Air is not in a global alliance, so a connection to a long-haul airline is usually on a separate ticket. Leave a long gap in Lagos or Abuja and keep enough time to collect and recheck bags.
Arik Air flies its domestic schedule.
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Good to know
- Founded2002
- Other gatewaysABV
Everything you should know
At a glance
Arik Air (IATA: W3, ICAO: ARA) is a Nigerian airline based in Lagos, with hubs in Lagos and Abuja. Founded in 2002, it flies Boeing 737 and Dash 8-400 aircraft on domestic routes in Nigeria and regional routes in Africa.
| Headquarters | Arik Air Aviation Center, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Fleet types | Boeing 737-700, 737-800 and Dash 8-400 |
| Frequent flyer | Arik Affinity Wings |
| Official website | arikair.com |
Flight routes
Destinations and routes
A selection of Arik Air routes by region, including flights from LOS to Abuja.
Search flights
Domestic: Nigeria
Lagos (LOS) departures1 destination
FromTo LOS ABV LagosAbuja Available airlines1 airline- Arik Air
Fleet and aircraft
In August 2025 Arik Air had 10 aircraft in service: five Boeing 737-700s, two Boeing 737-800s and three De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops. The 737s fly the main trunk routes such as Lagos to Abuja, and the Dash 8s serve shorter routes and smaller airports. Earlier long-haul aircraft, four Airbus A330-200s and two Airbus A340-500s, have left the fleet. Orders for Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 787-9 aircraft are reported as likely to be cancelled. The 737 jets carry Business and Economy cabins. On the Dash 8, expect a single cabin and limited overhead space.
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Boeing 737-700 Narrow-body Domestic and regional routes
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Boeing 737-800 Narrow-body Domestic and regional routes
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De Havilland Dash 8-400 Turboprop · 3 in service Domestic routes
Cabin classes
The Arik Air cabin classes are being added
Choose your cabin when you search; each fare shows what it includes.
Arik Affinity Wings
Arik Affinity Wings is Arik Air’s frequent flyer scheme, and you can sign up on arikair.com.
Arik Air’s frequent flyer programme lets members collect points on its flights. Check the airline’s website for current rules.
Affinity Wings is Arik Air's frequent flyer programme, and members earn miles on Arik flights. In 2026 the airline promoted an option for members to extend expired miles. Add your membership number when you book.
Baggage allowance
On Arik Air, the bag allowance follows your fare type, cabin and route, and the exact figure is printed on your W3 e-ticket.
Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Set by your fare
Extra bags
Add online before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only
Arik Air sets one allowance for short-haul and another for long-haul, and its premium cabins always carry more than the cheapest economy fare. Check the route-by-route figures on arikair.com.
Arik Air allows one piece of hand baggage weighing up to 6 kg on every flight. The size limit is 55 x 35 x 25 cm on regional and international flights and 33 x 23 x 38 cm on domestic flights, so a standard trolley case can be too big for a domestic sector. Infants have no checked baggage allowance.
Checked bags follow the allowance in your fare, and no single bag may weigh more than 30 kg, except on the Lagos, Freetown, Banjul and Dakar route. Excess baggage is charged, and VAT has applied to excess baggage fees since 1 March 2025.
Pro tip: if your W3 fare comes without a hold bag, buy one in your booking before you fly; airport prices for extra bags are usually higher.
Travel day
Online Check-in
Getting through check-in for Arik Air is simpler in this order. Start online and finish at bag drop. Arik Air's conditions of carriage advise checking in at least 90 minutes before a domestic flight and 120 minutes before other flights. The airline can cancel your seat if you have not checked in 30 minutes before a domestic departure, 60 minutes before a West or Central African flight, or 90 minutes before other flights. Domestic flights from Lagos leave from the domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport, where the airline's head office is also located.
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Step 1
Check in online
Use arikair.com to check in for eligible flights. Have your Arik Air booking reference or e-ticket number and your surname ready.
Booking ref + surname -
Step 2
Prepare your documents
Pack your passport plus any visa, residence permit or entry papers your destination asks for. Domestic W3 passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.
Passport · visa · ID -
Step 3
Arrive early
Get to the airport with time for Arik Air check-in, bag drop and security. The airline sets a deadline for each airport, shown in your booking, and late arrivals can lose their seat.
Check your deadline -
Step 4
Drop your bags
At the airport, take your bags to the Arik Air bag-drop point. Collect a printed W3 boarding pass there if you have not saved one to your phone.
Arik Air counter
Ready to check in?
Check in and manage your booking on the official Arik Air website.
Save money
Cheap tickets
Arik Air fares out of Lagos move with the season and the fare brand. These habits help keep the price down.
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01
Try midweek W3 flights
If your dates can move, look at W3 flights across the whole week. Midweek seats are often cheaper than weekend ones.
Midweek flights -
02
Travel around the busy dates
Holiday peaks push up fares on routes from Lagos. Shift your Arik Air trip just outside them where you can.
School holidays · festivals -
03
Price the bundle, not the base fare
An Arik Air fare that includes a checked bag, seat choice or cheaper changes can cost less overall than adding those extras later.
Baggage & changes -
04
Plan popular routes ahead
Popular Arik Air flights fill the cheaper fares first, so give yourself several weeks of lead time on busy routes.
Popular routes -
05
Join Arik Affinity Wings
Membership of Arik Affinity Wings lets your Arik Air trips count towards rewards, and members hear about offers first.
Before you fly -
Ready to compare fares?
Search Arik Air alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.
Search Arik Air flights
Reviews and questions
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Visitors are asking
W3 is the IATA code you see on tickets and departure boards. ARA is the ICAO code used in air traffic control, and pilots use the radio callsign ARIK AIR.
Its main hub is Murtala Muhammed International (LOS) in Lagos, and its head office is in Arik Air Aviation Center, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
No. It flies on its own, without alliance partners whose miles or lounges you could use.
Seven Boeing 737-700s and 737-800s fly most routes, and three Dash 8-400 turboprops cover shorter domestic sectors (August 2025 figures).
Yes, it is called Arik Affinity Wings. Add your membership number to the booking so the flight earns points.
The allowance for your W3 booking is printed on the e-ticket and shown in Manage Booking on arikair.com. The Arik Air route, cabin and fare all change it.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Everything travellers ask before flying Arik Air.
Answers checked against Arik Air’s official website and published airline records. Reviewed 10 October 2026.
General
Yes. Arik Air continued to operate flights in 2025 and 2026 under the management of AMCON, which took over the airline in 2017. Its network is smaller than in its early years and focuses on domestic and regional routes.
Arik Air's hubs are Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Accra in Ghana is a focus city for its regional flights.
Arik Air flew long-haul routes to London and New York in the past, but its current network is domestic and regional within West Africa. For intercontinental trips, check other airlines from Lagos or Abuja.
Arik Air flies Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 jets and De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops. The jets have Business and Economy cabins, while the turboprops serve shorter domestic routes.
Baggage allowances depend on your fare and route. Check your booking confirmation or the baggage information on arikair.com before travelling, and contact the airline if you need to carry extra or special items.
One piece of up to 6 kg. It must fit 55 x 35 x 25 cm on regional and international flights and 33 x 23 x 38 cm on domestic flights.
Arik Air does not accept a single checked bag over 30 kg. The only exception is the Lagos, Freetown, Banjul and Dakar route.
It is called Affinity Wings. Members earn miles on Arik Air flights and can join through the airline's website.
Call 0700 0035 92745 (0700 FLYARIK) or +234 201 889 1728, or email callcentre@arikair.com. The head office is at the Arik Aviation Centre, domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Getting there
Arik Air advises checking in 90 minutes before domestic flights and 120 minutes before other flights. Check-in closes 30 minutes before domestic departures and 60 minutes before West and Central African flights.
Arik Air uses the IATA code W3 and the ICAO code ARA. Its radio callsign is ARIK AIR.
No, Arik Air is not a member of Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam.
Besides its main hub, Arik Air also serves Abuja (ABV).
Booking
Arik Air flies to nigeria & west africa. It is listed by region, with fares and route guides where we have them, in the destinations section of this page.
Timing & weather
Arik Air was founded in 2002, 24 years ago.
