Virgin Nigeria to Begin Lagos-New York Route
Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 6:19 pm
The chairman of Virgin Atlantic Airline, Sir Richard Branson has assured Nigerian travelers that Virgin Nigeria would soon get the right to operate the lucrative Lagos -New York route, saying the approval given by the Nigerian Government to an American airline to begin operations on the US-Lagos route may facilitate that.
Branson while urging the US Government to allow a Nigerian carrier fly direct to their country route, however said the US had done everything to prevent Virgin Nigeria from plying the US route, expressing hope that there would be a change.
Branson told newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday that America should not continue to pra-ctice a one-sided open skies policy, which European carriers were resisting.
He noted that even tho-ugh Virgin Atlantic had 49 per cent of shares in Virgin Nigeria, the Nigerian inves-tors had 51 per cent and the company also had a Nigerian chairman which qualified it to fly on the route.
On Virgin Nigeria, Bran-son expressed satisfaction at its performance so far expla-ining that in the last one year, it had been like a baby mo-ving towards maturity.
He expressed delight that the airline was doing well on the domestic route as well as on the regional and Intern-ational routes, plying Johan-nesburg, Ghana and London, noting that it was an airline that made Nigeria proud.
Branson stated that by the end of the year, Virgin Ni-geria would have 1,000 staff, 850 of whom would have been Nigerians trained by the airline.
He said he looked fo-rward to the airline being one of the best in the world, in the next 10-15 years and com-mended Mr. John Adebayo, Virgin Atlantic represe-ntative in Nigeria, for making project a reality.
Daily Trust
Branson while urging the US Government to allow a Nigerian carrier fly direct to their country route, however said the US had done everything to prevent Virgin Nigeria from plying the US route, expressing hope that there would be a change.
Branson told newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday that America should not continue to pra-ctice a one-sided open skies policy, which European carriers were resisting.
He noted that even tho-ugh Virgin Atlantic had 49 per cent of shares in Virgin Nigeria, the Nigerian inves-tors had 51 per cent and the company also had a Nigerian chairman which qualified it to fly on the route.
On Virgin Nigeria, Bran-son expressed satisfaction at its performance so far expla-ining that in the last one year, it had been like a baby mo-ving towards maturity.
He expressed delight that the airline was doing well on the domestic route as well as on the regional and Intern-ational routes, plying Johan-nesburg, Ghana and London, noting that it was an airline that made Nigeria proud.
Branson stated that by the end of the year, Virgin Ni-geria would have 1,000 staff, 850 of whom would have been Nigerians trained by the airline.
He said he looked fo-rward to the airline being one of the best in the world, in the next 10-15 years and com-mended Mr. John Adebayo, Virgin Atlantic represe-ntative in Nigeria, for making project a reality.
Daily Trust