November 13, 2006

VIRGIN NIGERIA BACKS AVIATION MINISTER'S REFORM AGENDA

Lagos, Nigeria: 13 November: Virgin Nigeria Airways Limited, the nation's flag carrier is optimistic that the reform agenda drive of the new Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode will help to reposition the Nigerian aviation sector in the right direction.

At the meeting called by the Honorable Minister to brief airline operators last week, he made it clear that the cornerstone of his reform agenda will be the implementation of the recommendations of Air Marshall Paul Dike's Presidential Task Force Committee on the aviation sector.

Commending the Minister's decision to revisit and speedily implement this aviation reforms master plan, Mr. Conrad Clifford, the Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Nigeria who was a member of the Presidential Task Force on Aviation comments: "The recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Aviation Reforms were arrived at after a painstaking audit of the entire Nigerian aviation environment and the decisions were taken in the interest of building the sector"

According to Mr. Clifford, "the willingness of the new Minister to speedily implement the recommendations shows that he is on the right path towards restoring the sector to its place of pride in global aviation".

"Virgin Nigeria is delighted about the general policy direction and drive of the Honourable Minister as enunciated in his meeting with the airline operators, especially with respect to funding, review of airline licences (airworthiness) and the need for airline consolidation.

Based on July 2006 statistics, Virgin Nigeria now carries more passengers than any other Nigerian airline. As the new de-facto National carrier, we will fully cooperate with all relevant agencies in the implementation of the recommendations towards making the Nigerian skies safer", Conrad further said.

It will be recalled that following the unfortunate happenings in the aviation sector last year, a Stakeholders Forum was called by Mr. President to discuss the challenges confronting the aviation sector and proffer solutions. The Presidential Committee headed by the current Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Paul Dike was then inaugurated and charged with a responsibility to recommend the way forward for the nation's aviation industry.

At the end of the committee's sitting, which encompassed all areas of the aviation sector and visitations to all the airports in the country, the Committee sent in its reports covering over 100 major recommendations.

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 until October 15th 2006

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.