Sunday, December 04, 2011

Delta to invest $2 billion in air service delivery

Delta Airline has said that it will invest about $2 billion in upgrading its air service delivery to Nigerian passengers as well as improve facilities at the airports.

This is just as it disclosed that it was developing its intra-Africa network with a view to expanding same through its partnership with Air Nigeria.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Commercial Manager of Delta Airline for West and East Africa, Mr. Bobby Bryan noted that the airline would roll out full flat-bed BusinessElite seat on flights between Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and New York-JFK, via Accra, Ghana.

He said Delta is introducing a new dedicated Delta protocol service at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, adding that “the improvements are part of its ongoing plan to invest more than $2 billion in enhanced global products, services and airport facilities through to 2013.”

Mr. Bryan also noted that its strategic partnership with Air Nigeria has expanded the choices of passengers travelling with it as Air Nigeria will assist Delta sell its tickets on the Abuja –Accra – Atlanta route.

.“The partnership with Air Nigeria is very positive. We are very satisfied with the partnership and we hope to grow with it in the future especially with the sharing of flyers’ mile very soon,” he noted.

Bryan said that with its partnership with Air Nigeria since June 2010, its flight operations have increased from what it used to be, adding that more partnerships with the airline is underway.

He explained that in December 2006 when the airline commenced flight operations into the continent, it had 22 flights weekly, but the flight has since grown to 44 weekly with dual destinations in Nigeria; the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Also speaking, the Acting Commercial Director, Air Nigeria, Mr. Olumide Odebiyi said that the airline was privileged to have partnership with Delta Airline because of its pedigree, stressing that it is a partnership that is growing daily.

Odebiyi added that apart from the Lagos-Accra route partnership with Delta, more partnerships were also underway in the next few months.

Mr. Bryan explained that the upgraded seats would be available on Delta’s Abuja service effective 15 December. Customers flying in BusinessElite will enjoy 77-inch, 180-degree full-flat beds in a one-two-one configuration, which allows each customer direct aisle access and enhanced privacy. Delta is enhancing its onboard product on more than 150 aircraft to offer full flat-bed seating in BusinessElite on all international wide body flights.

Asaba Airport can never be an international airport – Aligbe

Managing Director,Belujane Konzult, Mr. Chris Aligbe has declared that Asaba Airport will never develop from its domestic capacity into an international airport, stressing that the airport was most viable for domestic operations.

Disclosing this during an interactive session with newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos, Mr. Aligbe affirmed that Asaba Airport would be the most viable domestic airport in country if it was properly managed, stating that by the time the government thinks of making Asaba Airport an international airport, its significant would be eroded.

According to him, ”Asaba airport will be one of the most viable domestic airports in the country if it is properly managed, so as an investment as a domestic airport, it is an excellent investment, it is well thought out as a domestic airport. But by the time you start international airport, it will erode, it will not be one and it is not going to successfully be one,” he added.

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