[size=14pt]Air Nigeria aircraft arrives for inaugural Lagos – London flight[/size]
By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

[img]http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/thumbnail.php?file=Air_Nigeria_790703068.jpg&size=article_medium[/img]
Air Nigeria aircraft arrives for inaugural Lagos – London flight

Air Nigeria’s Airbus A330-200 aircraft arrived the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos last night in preparation for the restart of operations on the Lagos-London route.

Chairman of the Air Nigeria Development Company, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim, said with the arrival of the aircraft, the carrier is set to crash air fares on the Lagos - London route.

.He described the arrival of the aircraft as one of the major steps taken by Air Nigeria to re launch itself into the global arena.

The aircraft, which arrived in the country, en route Cairo, Egypt, at 8:45pm, was greeted with a ceremonial shower by fire fighters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Onboard the aircraft was Ibrahim OFR; Managing Director, Air Nigeria, Mr. Kinfe Kahssaye and some management officials of the airline.

The airline is recommencing a daily flight operation to Gatwick South Terminal, London, from Wednesday. The aircraft has a two-class seating configuration of 24 Business seats and 244 Economy class seats.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/46542-air-nigeria-aircraft-arrives-for-inaugural-lagos-%E2%80%93-london-flight.html

Nice one! We need to poke out the eyes of the likes of British Airways who think they are gods.

Nice bird.

That said, a new Boeing Deamliner would have been a much safer bet in the long run. If it ain't a Boeing, I ain't a-going.

The Dreamliner began commercial service sometime October 2011, I frankly don't think it's a good business idea to start a business in an environment like Naija with such premium planes at ~$193 - $227 M with about 20 in service all over the world presently. Also, Boeing would have back orders that have not been fulfilled and that Air Nigeria which is a new entrant in the business would be able to afford such planes is almost impossible. If they can succeed with their initial planes, build their market and compete effectively against BA, then they can surely invest much more in the new Dreamliners and A380s. You also have to ask, can those super jumbo jets land at MMA now? Do they have facilities for such planes?

CyberG: The Dreamliner began commercial service sometime October 2011, I frankly don't think it's a good business idea to start a business in an environment like Naija with such premium planes at ~$193 - $227 M with about 20 in service all over the world presently. Also, Boeing would have back orders that have not been fulfilled and that Air Nigeria which is a new entrant in the business would be able to afford such planes is almost impossible. If they can succeed with their initial planes, build their market and compete effectively against BA, then they can surely invest much more in the new Dreamliners and A380s. You also have to ask, can those super jumbo jets land at MMA now? Do they have facilities for such planes?

I am sure Jimoh Ibrahim has seen those "impossibilities" and surmounted them (one of the reasons he is successful). More Nigerians should be as daring as this.

As for doubts about the capabilities of MMA, the fact is that the plane is coming into the place, and it will operate from there. Demand for the services of the airline will further drive the expansion of MMA (and other international airports in gradual turn).

Good development but hope this doesn't die any soon like Nigeria airways.