Boeing and Nigeria’s Arik Air weekend announced a deal for two 747-8 Intercontinental airplanes. The order is valued at $635 million at list prices and was previously attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s website.

The order was announced during a signing ceremony at the Corporate Council for Africa’s 8th Biennial U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Washington, D.C.”Air travel within the region continues to grow at a rapid pace and we must prepare our fleet to accommodate that growth,” said Sir JIA Arumemi-Johnson, owner and chairman of Arik Air. “Boeing’s new 747-8 fits perfectly into our long-term planning.

It brings the best operating economics for its size, which is important with the increase in fuel prices.”Arik Air is Nigeria’s fastest-growing privately owned airline operating a large fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737s and serves more than 22 domestic, six regional and three long-haul routes. The airline plans to use the 747-8 on its key long-haul routes.

”Arik Air is growing to become a leader in aviation in Africa and Boeing is happy Arik will use the 747-8 as a cornerstone of their future growth,” said Van Rex Gallard, vice- president of Sales for Africa, Latin America, and Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.