africanflyer

Virgin Nigeria was granted a foreign carrier permit by the US Department of Transportation, allowing it to begin services to the US from Nigeria. The airline’s application filed in 2005 was delayed due to opposition from US carriers claiming that the airline was controlled by UK-based Virgin Atlantic, and in the case of Continental, its own application to serve Lagos was denied by Nigerian authorities.

A condition withing the authorization also states “[ …] Virgin Nigeria Airways Limited may only use aircraft wet leased from a duly authorized and properly supervised U.S. or foreign air carrier (or operate through a code-share arrangement with such a carrier, where Virgin Nigeria is not physically operating the flight)”

Virgin Nigeria has agreed to buy 10 Embraer aircraft comprised of seven Embraer 170 aircraft and three 190s. The agreement also includes an option to buy six more 190s and purchase rights for eight 190 and 195 aircraft

Virgin Nigeria has resumed service to Port Harcourt, landing at the the Nigeria Air Force Base while the airport is under rehabilitation. The airline has leased a Fokker 50 for this service, and operates up to 3 daily flights from Lagos.

According to posted schedules, Virgin Nigeria will begin service to Monrovia, Liberia via Accra, Ghana on May 1. Flights will be operated on Tuesdays and Saturdays using B733 aircraft.

VK801 LOS - ACC: 730 - 725
VK801 ACC - ROB: 820 - 1020
VK800 ROB - ACC: 1120 - 1320
VK800 ACC - LOS: 1415 - 1615

According to posted schedules, Virgin Nigeria will serve Abidjan effective March 31. Flights will be opearted 3x per week using B733 aircraft.

VK825 LOS - ABJ: 1110 - 1140 Wednesdays, Fridays
VK824 ABJ - LOS: 1240 - 1510

VK825 LOS - ABJ: 1500 - 1530 Mondays
VK824 ABJ - LOS: 1630 - 1900

This service will increase in August to add a frequency on Thursdays, with another increase in November with service on Sundays, bringing the total to 5x per week by the end of the year.

North American and Virgin Nigeria have signed an agreement to cooperate on flights between the US and Africa. The first phase will see the airlines implementing an interline agreement whereby each will sell tickets on the other’s network. North American will also support Virgin Nigeria’s application to serve New York, where the latter would amend its application to serve the route using wet-leased aircraft. Once approval is granted, both airlines would codeshare on each other’s flights.

Virgin Nigeria will reduce its frequency on flights between Lagos and Dakar from the current 3x per week to 2x per week effective August 7. Services to Douala will also be reduced to 2x per week from the current 3x and will be operated nonstop as opposed to via Port Harcourt.

Virgin Nigeria will serve the city of Dubai in the UAE nonstop from Lagos, Nigeria effective May 2. Flights will be operated 3x per week using A340 aircraft on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

VK313 LOS - DXB: 2230 - 920
VK312 DXB - LOS: 1120 - 1620

Virgin Nigeria has announced the start of services between Lagos, Nigeria and Dakar, Sénégal effective March 16. Flights will be operated 3x per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays using B733 aircraft.

VK843 LOS - DKR: 2100 - 2350
VK842 DKR - LOS: 0050 - 0540

Virgin Nigeria submitted an application to the US Department of Transportation for a foreign air carrier permit, with initial plans to serve either Newark or New York from Lagos with a 4x per week frequency, to be eventually increased to daily. Additional points to be served eventually are Washington DC, Houston, Atlanta, Miami and Los Angeles.

Virgin Nigeria intends to operate flights to the US using wet-leased A340 aircraft from Virgin Atlantic Airways configured in Business, Premium Economy and Economy classes.

Virgin Nigeria is set to have a fleet of seven B733s and four A340s by November 2006, all on lease.

Following the recent crashes and subsequent groundings of airlines that operate B732s in Nigeria, as well as the revocation of Bellview Airline’s air operator’s certificate, Virgin Nigeria and Aero Contractors are increasing their domestic frequencies to help alleviate the shortage of available seats. As of today, Virgin will increase its daily flights between Lagos and Abuja by two while it introduces one extra frequency between Lagos and Port Harcourt. Aero Contractors on the other hand will increase its frequency by one daily flight to both Abuja and Port Harcourt from Lagos.

Virgin Nigeria has made changes to operate its Lagos to Douala flights with a stop at Port Harcourt, Nigeria three times per week, while on the other four days, flights are operated nonstop. Flights on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays are now operated with one stop at Port Harcourt.

VK77 LOS - PHC: 1400 - 1500
VK77 PHC - DLA: 1545 - 1630
VK76 DLA - PHC: 1715 - 1800
VK76 PHC - LOS: 1845 - 1945

Effective November 25, Virgin Nigeria will move London operations to Gatwick from its current service into Heathrow. Flight frequency will be maintained at the current 3x per week on an A343. Partner airline Virgin Atlantic will maintain daily flights to Heathrow.

Virgin Nigeria will inaugurate nonstop service to Douala, Cameroon from Lagos, Nigeria on October 25. Flights will be opereated daily using an A320.

VK823 LOS - DLA: 1830 - 1945
VK822 DLA - LOS: 2030 - 2145

Virgin Nigeria will inaugurate service to Johannesburg, South Africa from Lagos, Nigeria on November 25. Flights will be operated nonxtop 3x per week using an A343 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

VK303 LOS - JNB: 2320 - 605
VK302 JNB - LOS: 915 - 1400

Virgin Nigeria is reportedly receiving its first B733 by the end of this year, with the aim of operating seven B733s and four A343s by the end of next year. Its existing A320s will leave the airline by the middle of next year.

As for routes, Douala in Cameroon, and Johannesburg are in the works.

Virgin Nigeria is to finally start operations this month from its Lagos hub, with domestic flights to Abuja starting on June 29, and Port Harcourt on the 30th. Accra, Ghana will be added to the network on July 20, with London UK coming on board as of June 28. Domestic and regional flights will be operated with an A320, while the flights to London will be on an A343.

Abuja:

VK041 LOS - ABV: 645 - 745
VK040 ABV - LOS: 845 - 945
VK043 LOS - ABV: 1055 - 1155
VK042 ABV - LOS: 1255 - 1355

Port Harcourt:

VK073 LOS - PHC: 1045 - 1145
VK072 PHC - LOS: 1245 - 1345

Accra:

VK801 LOS - ACC: 655 - 655
VK800 ACC - LOS: 755 - 955

London:

VK281 LOS - LHR: 1235- 1930
VK280 LHR - LOS: 2010 - 310

All flights, except for London, will be operated on a daily basis. London will be served on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Virgin Atlantic will also codeshare on the LHR flights.