NIGERIA MAKES SOME PROGRESS ON U.S. AVIATION TIES

UNCLAS ABUJA 000213

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DOT PASS TO FAA
DAKAR PASS TO FAA REP ED JONES
ROME PASS TO TSA REP JOHN HALINSKI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR EINV EFIN ECON PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA MAKES SOME PROGRESS ON U.S. AVIATION TIES

REF: STATE 232394


1. (U) The Nigerian Ministry of Aviation sent correspondence
to Embassy Abuja dated January 12, 2006, stating that
Minister of Aviation Babalola Borishade "accepted the
designation" of North American Airlines (NAA) to begin
passenger, cargo, and mail service between New York City and
Lagos, Nigeria, under the U.S.-Nigeria Open Skies Agreement
(OSA). Borishade approved on January 26 an agreement
between NAA and Nigeria's Bellview Airlines for the two
carriers to cooperate on direct flights three times a week
between John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York
City and Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Borishade told the Nigerian media he considered the NAA-
Bellview partnership accord a positive step at a time when
Nigerian aviation was in "dire need of improvement"
following the recent "series of ugly experiences" including
the Bellview and Sosoliso Airlines aircraft crashes in
October and December 2005, respectively.


2. (U) The Nigerian Ministry of Aviation sent correspondence
to Embassy Abuja dated January 23, 2006, in which it
conveyed the aviation minister's "approval" for code-sharing
service between American Airlines and British Airways, under
the OSA. In separate correspondence on the same date, the
Ministry of Aviation conveyed Borishade's "approval" for
code-sharing service between Continental Airlines and Air
France, under the OSA.


3. (SBU) These developments are a welcome change from the
Government of Nigeria's (GON) previous lack of cooperation
with the United States on bilateral aviation issues,
stretching back two years to American Airlines' request of
January 8, 2004 to the GON for code-sharing with British
Airlines. The GON's positive action on the three
aforementioned aviation issues also follows Abuja's previous
effective denial of permission to Continental Airlines to
establish a Newark, N.J.-Lagos route - despite the
provisions of the OSA - which could have begun flights as
early as summer 2005.


4. (U) Embassy Abuja is encouraged by this improvement in
aviation relations, which likely has resulted from
Borishade's replacement of Isa Yuguda as minister of
aviation. The embassy is hopeful the GON would view in
isolation the possible U.S. rejection of Virgin Nigeria (VN)
Airways' application for authority for U.S. service, which
the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) currently is
considering. In the meantime, VN continues its push for
appointments with embassy and U.S. Government officials to
allow it to make its case for the DOT's concurrence -
despite the embassy's clear declaration to VN and the GON
that the DOT will make its decision based on the merits of
Virgin's case.

CAMPBELL