11 April, 2006

HAYATUDEEN JOINS VIRGIN NIGERIA BOARD

Lagos, Nigeria, April 11, 2006: Alhaji Mohammed Hayatudeen has joined the Board of Directors of Virgin Nigeria Airways Limited, the country's fully private sector flag carrier.

Chairman of Virgin Nigeria, Mr. Felix Ohiwerei, who made the announcement in Lagos, said: "Alhaji Hayatudeen is bringing to the board of Virgin Nigeria a wealth of experience which will greatly benefit the airline".

"In this challenging phase of aviation development in Nigeria, the experience of Hayatudeen is needed to raise the standard of the industry by building an airline of choice that will make all Nigerians proud, Ohiwerei said, adding, "The Board of Directors of Virgin Nigeria is proud to have such a competent and experienced corporate leader in Alhaji Mohammed Hayatudeen".

Commenting on his appointment as a Virgin Nigeria board member, Alhaji Mohammed Hayatudeen said, "I feel honoured to be invited to join the board of Virgin Nigeria, an airline which within its short time of operation is making enormous contribution to the development of the nation's economy, especially the aviation Industry", adding, "I will along with my colleagues on the board ensure that we steadily grow the airline in line with its vision of becoming a global airline based in Nigeria".

Hayatudeen is coming on board at a period Virgin Nigeria is making commendable inroads in its fleet and route network expansion.

Alhaji Mohammed Hayatudeen, former Chairman and CEO of FSB International Bank chairs the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). He is an astute corporate technocrat of repute who has been in the vanguard of Nigeria's campaign to create an enabling environment for investment through the NESG.

With Hayatudeen's appointment as a Board Member, the Board of Virgin Nigeria chaired by Mr. Felix Ohiwerei now consists of 11 members, all of whom are tested professionals who have distinguished themselves in different sectors of the Nigerian and global economy.

Hayatudeen is happily married with children.

About Virgin Nigeria:
Virgin Nigeria is the registered, fully private sector flag carrier of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, owned 51% by Nigerian Institutional shareholders and 49% by Virgin Atlantic.

The airline operates the following

intercontinental services:
Lagos to London: Daily
Johannesburg: Three times a week
Dubai: Three times a week

Regional services:
Accra: Daily
Douala: Two times a week
Dakar: Two times a week

Domestic services:
Lagos - Abuja: Six times daily
***Lagos - Port Harcourt: Four times daily now temporarily cancelled
***Abuja - Port Harcourt: Once daily now temporarily cancelled
Lagos - Kano: Five times a week
Abuja - Kano: Five times a week

For reservations, call (01) 460 0505; (01) 271 1111; (09) 461 0505; (084) 460505

For all press enquiries, please contact: corporatecommunications@virginnigeria.com

For media information in Nigeria only, please contact Corporate Communications, 3rd floor, Ark towers, Plot 17 Ligali Ayorinde Street, VI, or corpcomm@virginnigeria.com; 234 -1 – 2711144

For media information in the UK please contact the Virgin Atlantic Press Office on 01293 747 373.