04 May 07

AIR RETURN DECISIONS ARE TAKEN IN THE INTEREST OF PASSENGERS SAFETY - VIRGIN NIGERIA

Lagos, Nigeria: 04 May 2007: Air return decisions, according to the Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Nigeria, Mr. Conrad Clifford are taken by pilots in strict compliance with standard operating procedures, rules and regulations of the Nigerian Civil Aviation and the International Civil Aviation Organisations.

Speaking during a recent media briefing by the airline to address concerns over air returns, Mr. Conrad Clifford said: "Within the last six months, Virgin Nigeria has made 5336 flights (average of 30 flights per daily) during which it had six air returns. Three of these were due to weather, bird strike and VIP movement while three were as a result of under carriage retraction on three different aircraft".

According to Conrad Clifford, Virgin Nigeria operates to the highest standard of safety at par with the best in class in the UK which has the best safety record in the world.

"Because Virgin Nigeria carries the Virgin insignia which is a global brand on its aircraft, the airline is regularly audited by Virgin Atlantic to the highest international standards. This is in addition to the regular maintenance by Lufthansa Technik and BMI. Virgin Nigeria does not compromise on safety", Clifford further stressed.

The airline boss said that it is for this reason that Virgin Nigeria has made the data on its operations freely available to the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the press and the respective regulatory agencies as the facts and figures speak for themselves.

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: Three 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.