Virgin Nigeria Airways
1800272
225189462
2008-07-12T10:45:30Z
91.171.214.211
/* Deportations */
{{Infobox Airline
|airline=Virgin Nigeria
|logo=Virgin_Nigeria_logo.png
|logo_size=200
|IATA=VK
|ICAO=VGN
|callsign=VIRGIN NIGERIA
|parent=
|founded=[[2004]]
|headquarters=[[Lagos, Nigeria]]
|key_people=[[CEO]] [[Conrad Clifford]]
|hubs=[[Murtala Mohammed International Airport]]
|focus_cities=
|frequent_flyer=[http://www.virginnigeria.com/eagleflier/ eagleflier]
|lounge=
|alliance=
|fleet_size=8 (+10 orders, 6 options)
|destinations=16
|website= http://www.virginnigeria.com
}}
'''Virgin Nigeria Airways Limited''' is an [[airline]] based in [[Ikeja]] in [[Lagos State]], [[Nigeria]] and operates scheduled international, regional and domestic passenger services. Their hub is [[Murtala Mohammed International Airport]] (LOS) of the [[Lagos]] area. The airline is a replacement for defunct [[Nigeria Airways]].
== History ==
On [[28 September]] [[2004]] the Nigerian government and [[Virgin Atlantic Airways]] signed an agreement to establish a new airline for Nigeria, to be called Virgin Nigeria Airways. Nigerian institutional investors own 51% of the company and Virgin Atlantic Airways owns 49%. The airline's inaugural flight was on [[28 June]] [[2005]] from Lagos to [[London Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow]] using an [[Airbus A340]]-300 aircraft. Virgin Nigeria has since gone on to become one of Nigeria's largest airlines carrying its 1,000,000th passenger and 4,000 tons of freight within two years of operation. The airline has also received accolades including THISDAY Awards 2006 Airline of the year<ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200703260311.html Virgin Nigeria wins 2006 Airline of the Year award.], AllAfrica.com website, retrieved [[March 27]] [[2007]]</ref> and a nomination for 2006 African Airline of the year by ASATA (Association of South African Travel Agents). <ref>[http://www.asata.co.za/index.asp Virgin Nigeria nominated for 2006 African Airline of the year], Association of South African Travel Agents website, retrieved [[March 27]] [[2007]]</ref> Virgin Nigeria has plans of making [[Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport]] in Abuja its second hub where in addition to its Lagos hub [[Murtala Mohammed International Airport]] it will serve all countries in West Africa. <ref>[http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/virgin-nigeria-buys-bevy-of-embraer-regional-jets/?no_cache=1&cHash=221b1f7da9 Virgin Nigeria buys bevy of Embraer regional jets: AINonline<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The Nigerian government set a deadline of [[April 30]] [[2007]] for all airlines operating in the country to re-capitalise or be grounded, in an effort to ensure better services and safety. The airline satisfied the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)’s criteria in terms of re-capitalization and was re-registered for operation.<ref>[http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/NR/exeres/B30C7654-36D9-4C57-837C-1EAB4A103091.htm?id=637 Nigeria Direct] 2 May 2007</ref>
== US flights ==
There are plans to launch scheduled flights from its [[Lagos]] hub to [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]] in [[Houston, Texas]]. This would replace the original services of the defunct and liquidated [[Nigeria Airways]]. There has been an agreement for Virgin Nigeria to wet lease American aircraft in order to start flights to the US. This appears to be a breach of agreement from the US Government on a prior agreement that did not include that clause. Some have argued that the US wants to monopolize the US-Nigeria route by creating a unilateral contract that would enable only US flights to fly this route.
[[Image:virgin.nigeria.a330-200.g-wwbd.arp.jpg|thumb|left|Virgin Nigeria [[Airbus A330]]-200 waits for take off at [[London Gatwick Airport]]]]
On [[22 December]] [[2005]] Virgin Nigeria made a new filing to the [[United States Department of Transportation]] for a foreign carrier permit, which points out that the degree of Virgin Atlantic ownership in Virgin Nigeria (49%) is not a barrier to granting such a permit. [http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf95/378418_web.pdf DoT Filing] [http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf95/378421_web.pdf DoT Exemption Filing].
Virgin Nigeria plans to add [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]] as its first American destination, followed by [[Washington, D.C.]], (to cater for political and NGO traffic), and [[Houston]] (catering for oil and medical industries-related traffic).
In the hopes of expediting the filing, on [[June 13]], [[2006]] the Nigerian government gave U.S. -based [[Global Aero Logistics]]' fully owned [[subsidiary]] North American Airlines permission to start direct scheduled flights from [[New York]]'s JFK Airport to Lagos starting in late July. <ref>[http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060613/cltu030.html?.v=50] {{Dead link|date=May 2008}}</ref> North American Airlines specializes in direct flights to Africa from the U.S.
On [[2008-04-06]] Virgin Nigeria was granted an approval to fly to US cities.
== Deportations ==
Virgin Nigeria has been involved in carrying out [[deportation|deportations]] for the British Home Office. On 9 July 2008 it was reported <ref>http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/07/09/airline-s-refusal-saves-kemi-from-deportation-91466-21308221/</ref> that Virgin Nigeria has refused to carry a family to Nigeria, who fear for their lives if they were sent back.
== Destinations ==
[[Image:VirginNigeriaRoutes.png|right|thumb|Map of Virgin Nigeria routes as of 21 January 2008.<ref>[http://www.virginnigeria.com/en/ng/timetable.html Virgin Nigeria website{{ndash}} Timetable]</ref>]]
=== Africa ===
;Central Africa
* Gabon
**[[Libreville]] ([[Libreville International Airport]])
;Southern Africa
*South Africa
**[[Johannesburg]] ([[OR Tambo International Airport]])
;West Africa
*Benin
**[[Cotonou]] ([[Cadjehoun Airport]])
*Cameroon
**[[Douala]] ([[Douala International Airport]])
*Cote d'Ivoire
**[[Abidjan]] ([[Port Bouet Airport]]) [Starts Aug 4th, 2008]
*Ghana
**[[Accra]] ([[Kotoka International Airport]])
*Nigeria
**[[Abuja]] ([[Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport]])
**[[Benin City]] ([[Benin Airport]])
**[[Calabar]] ([[Margaret Ekpo International Airport]])
**[[Kano]] ([[Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport]])
**[[Lagos]] ([[Murtala Muhammed International Airport]]) '''HUB'''
**[[Owerri]] ([[Imo Airport]])
**[[Port Harcourt]] ([[Port Harcourt International Airport]])
**[[Sokoto]] ([[Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport]])
*Senegal
**[[Dakar]] ([[Dakar-Yoff-Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport]])
=== Europe ===
;Western Europe
*United Kingdom
**[[London]]
***([[London Gatwick Airport]])
***([[London Heathrow Airport]])
== Fleet ==
The Virgin Nigeria Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of [[10 July]] [[2008]]) [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=VSN&al_op=1]:
<center>
{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse"
|+ '''Virgin Nigeria Airways Fleet'''
|- bgcolor=jade
!Aircraft
!Total
!Passengers <br> (Business/Economy)
!Routes
!Notes
|-
|[[ATR 42-500]]
|1
|
|Short haul <br> Domestic services
|Leased from [[Interstate Airlines]]
|-
|[[Boeing 737-300]]
|4
|116 (16/100)
|Short and medium haul routes
|Leased from [[GECAS]]
|-
|[[Boeing 767-300]]
|2
|213 (25/188)
|Medium and long haul routes
|Leased from [[LatCharter]]
|-
|[[Embraer 170]]
|(7 orders)
|67 (7/60)
|Short haul <br> Domestic services
|Entry into service: 2008 <br> Deliveries: 2008-2011
|-
|[[Embraer 190]]
|(3 orders) <br> (6 options)
|96 (12/84)
|Short haul <br> Regional services
|Entry into service: 2008 <br> Deliveries: 2008-2011 <br> 8 purchase rights
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas MD-83]]
|1
|
|Short haul
|Leased from [[Blue Line (airline)|Blue Line]]
|}
</center>
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.virginnigeria.com Virgin Nigeria Airways]
{{Virgin Group}}
{{IATA members|africa}}
{{African Airlines Association}}
[[Category:Airlines of Nigeria]]
[[Category:IATA members]]
[[Category:African Airlines Association]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 2004]]
[[Category:Virgin Group|Nigeria]]
[[Category:Companies of Nigeria]]
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