03 July 08

VIRGIN NIGERIA PARTNERS THE SONNY KUKU FOUNDATION TO FIGHT SICKLE CELL MENACE

Lagos Nigeria, 3rd July 2008: As Virgin Nigeria celebrates three years of commercial flight services, the airline has gone into partnership with The Sonny Kuku Foundation (TSKF) as part of its commitment towards raising funds for research and clinical management of some of the most deadly diseases affecting Africans especially Nigerians.

Through the partnership, Virgin Nigeria will introduce special envelops onboard all her flights across its route network for the collection of donations from passengers that are willing to support the foundation.

Conrad said: “The airline identifies with all global and local initiatives to improve the health conditions of the people. We are a caring airline that will continue to pay serious attention to issues that concerns humanity be it young or old”.

He further noted that Virgin Nigeria is committed to balancing economic, social and environmental objectives for the overall goal of a successful and sustainable business. The Virgin Nigeria’s route network with its reach that spans international, regional and domestic destinations will certainly make a positive impact in the drive to raise funds for the foundation.

Also speaking during the partnership, the chairman, Board of Trustees, Bashorun I.K Randle said: “the founder of The Sonny Kuku Foundation, Dr. Sonny Kuku having been a victim of sickle and as a survivor, he sees the need to be in the vanguard of the cause as the lack of research and clinical care of endocrine diseases is alarming”.
 
Sickle Cell Disease is the most silent killer of children and young adults of the black African race and is capable of causing serious morbidity and mortality, wiping out a large population of talented and vibrant Africans across all age groups and social strata. The partnership will help to raise funds and awareness to fight the scourge.

Since the commencement of Virgin Nigeria operations in Nigeria on June 28, 2005, the airline has been involved in series of corporate social activities which have direct impact on lives. Notably is its partnership in 2006 with the United Nations World Food Programme where Virgin Nigeria provided the medium to raise funds towards eradicating hunger and malnutrition among children.




About Virgin Nigeria

Virgin Nigeria is Nigeria's private sector flag carrier, 51% owned by Nigerian institutional investors and 49% owned by Virgin Atlantic. The airline was formed in September 2004 when the Federal Government of Nigeria announced the selection of Virgin Atlantic Airways as the strategic investor and technical partner in this exciting project.

With the mission of being a World Class Airline from the heart of Africa, Virgin Nigeria, has steadily developed a global network that serves domestic, regional and international routes from its operational hub at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

With a focus on improving the customer’s experience, Virgin Nigeria is constantly developing innovative products for the convenience of its customers. Some of these innovations include the online booking and payment system. The online and booking payment system allows the customer to book from anywhere in world, as well as make payments with an interswitch debit card for people in Nigeria and most international credit and debit cards for persons in London.

Virgin Nigeria’s customers traveling on the domestic service can also make use of the new ‘Carry On, Carry Off’ product called “COCO”. This product allows passengers traveling on the domestic service carrying cabin hand luggage which is over 6kg to hand these over to the attendants at the foot of the aircraft. These bags are specially tagged and collected by the passengers on arrival at the tarmac.

Virgin Nigeria recently announced an order for 24 Embraer aircraft. The order consists of E170s and E190s jets. Delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled for September 2008.

Virgin Nigeria is listed on the IOSA Directory following its successful completion of the intensive IATA Operational Safety Audit which now places it at par with the best airlines in the world having shown its commitment and demonstration to airline safety standards

Virgin Nigeria is the first Nigerian airline and first West African carrier to be listed on the IOSA Directory.

For more information, visit www.virginnigeria.com