The United States of America has finally cleared the way for Virgin Nigeria Airways to fly directly to New York from Lagos, following the signing of an Open Skies Agreement between the country and the European Union.
Virgin Nigeria had applied to the US Department of Transport on December 22, 2005 for scheduled passenger flights between the US and Nigeria. But the US had turned down the airline�s request based on its affiliation to Virgin Atlantic Airways, which was then seen as an obstacle to the EU / US open skies agreement.
The coast, however, became clear during the week, when the DOT gave the airline the nod to commence direct flight operations on the Lagos � New York route.
A source at Virgin Nigeria, confirmed the development and said the mood at the airline�s office was upbeat, adding that the activities were already in top gear for the inaugural flight.
According to him, the DOT had said it would approve all applications by qualified Nigerian carriers that wished to serve the US route.
The US and European Union open skies agreement expressly covered approval by the US of the Virgin Nigeria�s application.
The source added that the airline was sure of securing approval, as the EU/US open skies pact provided for an additional protocol. This consists of rights in the area of ownership, investment and control by EU investors of Third World country airlines established in Africa and in non-EU countries.
The source said, �The commencement of flight operations by the Nigerian carrier will be hinged on the open skies agreement between Nigeria and the US to operate non-stop flights between the two countries.�
He recalled that an American carrier, the North American Airlines, had since last year been flying directly from the US to Nigeria, adding that the entry by the Virgin Nigeria was a welcome development in living up to the terms of the open skies agreement.
The Nigerian government and Virgin Atlantic Airways had signed an agreement to establish the airline for Nigeria On September 24, 2004. Nigerian institutional investors own 51 per cent of the company while Virgin Atlantic Airways of the United Kingdom owns 49 per cent.