Nigeria Content Online

Nigeria’s minister of aviation, Fidelia Njeze, and delegates
from United Airlines, an international carrier from the United States of
America, have officially announced the commencement of flight operations by an
additional airline on the Nigeria-USA route.

Describing the development as an “accomplished mission” for the
federal government of Nigeria, Ms. Njeze disclosed that the entry of the new
United States carrier into the Nigeria aviation industry depicts mutual
understanding between both countries after the signing of the open skies
treaty.

“This is mission accomplished for us in the ministry and for
Nigerians,” she said during a briefing at the Murtala Muhammed International
Airport (MMIA), Lagos on Wednesday.

“What we are witnessing started some years ago, which led to the
coming in of Delta Airlines; and this marks the Nigeria-United States agreement
of open skies signed in 2001.”

The aviation minister disclosed that Nigeria will continue to
work with the United States government to enhance development in the sector,
adding that the arrival of United Airlines will boost services on the route.

“Nigeria will always be a strategic and economic partner of the
USA, and for this reason I hereby formally announce on behalf of the federal government,
the arrival of United Airlines to Nigeria,” she said.

Making Lagos a hub

Speaking on the development, Richard Aisuebeogun, managing
director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, said that the federal
government is making efforts to ensure that the Lagos international airport
becomes a hub in Africa, adding that the airline is welcomed to Nigeria.

“This shows progression and it drives at making Nigeria,
especially Lagos airport, a hub in Africa,” he said. “We have the market, the
number and the business, so we welcome United Airlines and we want to assure
you that soon your frequency will be increased.”

Expressing thanks to the federal government through the ministry
of aviation, Charles Duncan, president of the carrier, reiterated that the
addition in the number of carriers on the route will promote trade, improve
cultural ties and development passenger services.

“I am grateful to the aviation minister and all of our partners
here who made launching the new service to Washington possible,” he said. “This
service will facilitate stronger commercial and cultural ties between the
United States and Nigeria, while making travel more convenient and more
accessible to our customers in Africa and the Americas.”

United Airlines brings the number of carriers flying to the United States
from Nigeria to three after the country attained the much coveted Category One
Status in August this year from The United States Federal Aviation
Administration (US FAA). The other airlines on the Nigeria-US route are Delta
Airlines and Arik Air, an indigenous carrier.