LAGOS and ATLANTA, Dec. 2 / -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) and Air Nigeria* today announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore areas of commercial cooperation that will expand travel options between North America and Nigeria.
The memorandum of understanding provides for the carriers to discuss marketing agreements that would allow their customers to benefit from frequent flyer program participation and for Air Nigeria to place its code on Delta-operated services between Abuja and New York-JFK via Dakar, Senegal. Any codesharing is subject to government approvals.
“We are delighted to be exploring a closer relationship with Air Nigeria, which will greatly benefit customers in Nigeria,” said Bobby Bryan, Delta’s commercial manager – West and East Africa. ”A marketing relationship would provide Delta and Air Nigeria customers with additional travel and freight opportunities.”
Captain Dapo Olumide, chief executive officer, Air Nigeria added: “This is an exciting time for us and this agreement will add value to boost trade between West Africa and the United States. This is a win-win for all but especially the traveling public who will have extra choice to New York and beyond.”
Air Nigeria, formerly Virgin Nigeria Airways Limited, is a Nigerian registered private sector flag carrier airline wholly owned by private investors. The airline has in the course of its operations developed a global network that is progressively serving domestic and regional routes. From its operational base at the Lagos Murtala Mohammed Airport, Air Nigeria currently flies domestically to Abuja, Owerri, Kano, Sokoto, Calabar and Port Harcourt while on the regional routes, it connects passengers to Accra, Ghana; Douala, Cameroon; Dakar, Senegal; Cotonou, Republic of Benin; Libreville, Gabon and Abidjan, Cote d’ivoire; Monrovia, Liberia; Dakar, Senegal and Banjul, Gambia. The airline is 100 percent e-ticketing compliant across its network. Air Nigeria is building an emerging airlines alliance in Africa through cooperation among carriers in the continent.
About Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, the world’s No. 1 airline, serves more than 170 million passengers each year. With its unsurpassed global network, Delta, its Northwest subsidiary and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 368 destinations in 66 countries on six continents. Delta employs more than 70,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of nearly 800 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry’s leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France KLM. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 16,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline’s service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world’s largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.
*Editor's Note: This news release has been updated from its original version to reflect a name change to Air Nigeria from Nigerian Eagle Airlines. More information about Air Nigeria's new identity is aviailable at its website.
