Posted by Akin Olukunle on
The new national carrier, Virgin Nigeria, on Sunday said the claim by the United States' Department of Transportation that it did not apply for approval to operate direct flights between Nigeria and the US was unfounded.
The new national carrier, Virgin Nigeria, on Sunday said the claim by the United States' Department of Transportation that it did not apply for approval to operate direct flights between Nigeria and the US was unfounded.
The airline is, however, finalising its regulatory approvals from all regulatory bodies, as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority inspectors will, this week, monitor a complete trial flight (without commercial passengers) of the airline. The approvals are aimed at ensuring the take-off of the carrier, particularly on the domestic route, on May 1, 2005.
A senior official of the airline, who preferred anonymity, said the Ministry of Aviation had in January 2005 applied for the route approval but had not received any acknowledgement and/or consent from the DOT.
The official could not, however, furnish our correspondent with an evidence of the application.
The official explained that it was not the responsibility of the airline to apply for the route since it was an asset of the Nigeria in its Bilateral Air Service Agreement with the US.
'It is not true that there was no application. The process is for the government to apply and the airline to support with all necessary information," the source added.
The official, however, believed a solution to the problem between the two parties was imminent, as 'the two governments are discussing and that is the normal procedure."
Spokesman of the DOT, Bill Mosley, had on Thursday in Washington D.C asserted that Virgin Nigeria did not apply for approval to fly the Lagos-New York route.
Mosley claimed that the US was never averse to the operations of Virgin Nigeria, as the DOT was ready to entertain any application from Virgin Nigeria 'taking all relevant factors into account."
Mosley was reacting to the ban by Nigeria, last Monday ban on US-based airlines from flying direct to the country in retaliation for the December 2004 ban on Virgin Nigeria by the US Government.
US-based Continental Airlines, had, a fortnight ago, cancelled plans to fly to Nigeria after aviation authorities denied it technical permits required to operate the lucrative Lagos-New York route.
The PUNCH, Monday, April 25, 2005