05 April 07

VIRGIN NIGERIA COLLABORATES WITH TINAPA PROJECT TO ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENTS INTO NIGERIA

Lagos, Nigeria: April 05, 2007: Virgin Nigeria, the nation's flag carrier has once again demonstrated her commitment to the development of Nigeria's tourism potentials by collaborating with the Cross Rivers State Government in the formal opening of Tinapa Business Resort, Africa's premier business resort.

Explaining Virgin Nigeria's strategic alliance with Tinapa Business Resort, the Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Nigeria, Mr. Conrad Clifford said: "The Tinapa Business Resort is a fantastic project of which all Nigerians can rightly be proud. We fully support this initiative and would like to showcase this world class resort on an international basis".

"Our aim is to help attract key global players in the tourism industry by opening up more frequencies from our Lagos hub which will feed the nation's tourist and business sites", Clifford further said.

He noted that Virgin Nigeria fully appreciates and is committed to the Cross Rivers State initiative of building a virile economic hub anchored on trade, culture and tourism.

By virtue of her designation as the official carrier airline to the formal opening of the Tinapa Business Resort, Virgin Nigeria introduced additional flights from Lagos and also a special direct charter flight from Abuja to offer convenience and ease of travel for all during the commissioning of the resort.

The Tinapa Business Resort, with Calabar as its base will attract investors, traders and business travellers and will subsequently deliver a beneficial tourism project that will ensure high economic growth and prosperity for the people of Cross Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole.

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
 

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

Domestic services:
Lagos - Abuja: Eight times daily
***Lagos - Owerri: Three times daily
***Lagos - Port Harcourt: Two times daily
Lagos - Kano:: Six times a week
Abuja - Kano: Six times a week
Lagos - Sokoto (via Abuja): Three times a week
Abuja - Sokoto: Three times a week
Lagos- Calabar: Six 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.