Virgin Nigeria -VNA Media

VNA Press release

04 February 08

MMA2: BRANSON SEEKS PRESIDENT YAR’ADUA’S INTERVENTION

Lagos, Nigeria: 04 February 2008: The President of Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson has called on President Yar’Adua to intervene in the directive to forcefully eject Virgin Nigeria from its operational base at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos as it violates the article of formation of the flag carrier which was signed by representatives of the Federal Government and himself.

In a personal letter to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria dated 30 January 2008, Sir Richard Branson sought his intervention to review the directive as it would be counter productive for the airline to mount safe operations from the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2 terminal.

“The directive to split Virgin Nigeria’s domestic operations from its regional and international operations will put the achievements of the airline at risk as the ability for Virgin Nigeria to operate all services out of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport is a core condition of the Memorandum of Mutual Undertaking (MMU) which is the basis of the set up of the airline”, Sir Richard Branson said.

He noted further that operating from one terminal is an absolute requirement for any national airline hoping to create an effective hub operation that will eventually allow the airline to compete effectively on a world stage.

Virgin Nigeria was incorporated in Nigeria following the signing of a Memorandum of Mutual Undertaking (MMU) between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Virgin Atlantic Airways on 28 September 2004 to set up a flag carrier airline

Virgin Nigeria had last week secured an exparte order from The Federal High Court Ikoyi Lagos restraining agencies of the Federal Ministry of Aviation from relocating its domestic operations to MMA2 as the directive violates the fundamentals of the Memorandum of Mutual undertaking (MMU) signed by Virgin Nigeria technical partners and the Federal Ministry of Aviation, representing the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Virgin Nigeria has also raised safety concerns over operating at MMA2 in the areas of safety and the ability of the terminal to support its operations.