Virgin's African start-up carrier Virgin Nigeria is aiming to launch services by the end of the second quarter, and plans to grow its fleet to 11 aircraft within three years.
Speaking earlier this month as Virgin Atlantic conducted its inaugural flight to Mumbai, India, chief executive Steve Ridgway said that the carrier's fleet is likely to comprise seven or eight Airbus A320s for short- and medium-haul work and other types – possibly Airbus A340s – for long-haul flights. Ridgway says that the airline is on course to begin operations in the "next couple of months". The carrier expects to launch services before the end of June.
"We have had a very good level of support from the Nigerian government," says Ridgway. "Our goal is to be a first-world best-practitioner in a part of Africa that is crying out for that."
AIMEE TURNER/MUMBAI
Source: Flight International
