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Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Virgin Nigeria Airways is set to leave the runway today flying from Lagos, Nigeria to London’s Heathrow airport, making the first run in its domestic, regional, and international schedule. The new airline is a joint-venture owned 49% by Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and 51% by various Nigerian institutions. Nigeria’s flag carrier, Virgin Nigeria Airways, is set to commence domestic, regional, and international operations tomorrow.
According to the new airline’s website, June 28 marks a historic moment in Nigerian aviation as it is the first time a wholly private sector airline takes to the skies. Nigeria’s original airline, which was state-owned, collapsed in 2004.
The first flight from London Heathrow to Lagos will be on July 4, 2005. After the first trips to and from London the airline will increase its flights to three times per week and is finalizing plans for short-hauls within Africa. The domestic flights are scheduled to begin on June 29 with a Lagos-Abuja-Lagos service and on June 30 with Lagos-Port Harcourt-Lagos route, while regional operations will commence with Lagos-Accra-Lagos.
Unlike other airline ventures in the region when they enter the market, Virgin Nigeria’s airplanes will not be 40 years old, according to Richard Branson: “Africans want the best, and they deserve it.” The service will be operated using an Airbus 340-300 in three-class configurations with 187 seats in Economy class, 28 in Premium Economy, and 40 Business class seats.
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