October 05, 2006

KABO ASSISTS VIRGIN NIGERIA WITH COMMENCEMENT OF AIRLIFT OF PILGRIMS

Lagos, Nigeria: 5 October 2006: Virgin Nigeria today announces that the airlift of pilgrims to the lesser hajj (Umrah) will commence on Sunday, October 8 2006 from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Announcing the planned commencement of the airlift of pilgrims, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Conrad Clifford said: "having been denied landing slots by the Saudi authorities, we met with the management of Kabo Airline and have reached an understanding to partner with the airline whereby we will act as the operating carrier for Kabo to permit the deployment of our modern Boeing 767-300 to this route as we had originally planned".

Conrad further stressed that Virgin Nigeria is very grateful to have worked with its fellow Nigerian airline and have proactively come up with a timely measure to ensure that all pilgrims booked on its services are airlifted within the specified time frame.

It will be recalled that Virgin Nigeria over the weekend took delivery of a modern Boeing 767-300 aircraft leased from Europe which the airline plans to use for the airlift of pilgrims to perform their religious obligations in the holy land.

The airlift of pilgrims which was earlier scheduled to begin on Sunday, October 1 2006 by Virgin Nigeria could not start in earnest as the airline was at the eleventh hour denied landing slots by the Saudi authorities.

Working together as partners, Kabo and Virgin Nigeria will provide quality service to the Nigerian pilgrims.

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: (Now diverted to Owerri two times daily)
***Abuja - Port Harcourt: (Now diverted to Owerri once daily)
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.