Independent Nigerian carrier Arik Air is expanding its activities in the West African market with the addition of a flight from its Lagos base to the Malian capital Bamako from next month. The new flight is scheduled to be launched on August 26 and will operate via Cotonou in Benin.

Arik Air is planning to operate up to four flights per week but is still finalizing the final terms of the agreement with authorities in the West African countries. The network expansion was exclusively revealed during the 6th Routes Africa forum in Bamao, Mali earlier this week after formal consent for the route was agreed during the event.

"We are delighted to be able to announce this expansion of our West African network and are pleased that we have been able to confirm this growth during Routes Africa. This will hopefully be the first of many new routes in the region and we are studying a number of other destinations," said Bert van der Stege, VP of Planning, Marketing and Loyalty, Arik Air.

Host of the event, Mme Aya Thiam Diallo, President Director General, Aeroports du Mali added: "This route announcement is a big endorsement of what we are doing at Aeroports du Mali to develop intra-African links and enhance travel options within the region. We are excited to be partnering with an expanding carrier such as Arik Air to facilitate this development."

The 6th Routes Africa event in Bamako, the capital of Mali, attracted more than 200 delegates from across Africa and the Middle East, bringing together the route developers of the continent to discuss the industry and establish potential for new air traffic routes.

Speaking during the event, David Stroud, Executive Vice President, Airports from UBM Aviation Routes Limited said: "It is always great to hear stories of how Routes events have played a role in facilitating air service development. We normally only find out about these a year or so after discussions begin at our forums. It is great to be able to announce a service that has actually been finalised during Routes Africa and shows the value of the forum to airlines, airports and stakeholders."