Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAGOS793
2006-06-12 14:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
NORTH AMERICAN AIRLINES JULY 17 INAUGURAL FLIGHT
how-toVZCZCXRO5857 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #0793 1631416 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 121416Z JUN 06 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7318 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 7366 RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA PRIORITY 1241 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0155 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0357 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR PRIORITY 0747 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 1070 RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS LAGOS 000793
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS FAA FOR ACONLEY,
TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA; DAKAR PLEASE PASS TO FAA REP ED
JONES; ROME PLEASE PASS TO TSA REP JOHN HALINSKI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CMGT EAIR EINV KFRD PREL NI
SUBJECT: NORTH AMERICAN AIRLINES JULY 17 INAUGURAL FLIGHT
FROM LAGOS TO NEW YORK
REF: A. LAGOS 790
B. LAGOS 673
-------
Summary
-------
UNCLAS LAGOS 000793
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS FAA FOR ACONLEY,
TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA; DAKAR PLEASE PASS TO FAA REP ED
JONES; ROME PLEASE PASS TO TSA REP JOHN HALINSKI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CMGT EAIR EINV KFRD PREL NI
SUBJECT: NORTH AMERICAN AIRLINES JULY 17 INAUGURAL FLIGHT
FROM LAGOS TO NEW YORK
REF: A. LAGOS 790
B. LAGOS 673
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) On June 9, the North American Airlines (NAA) Nigeria
Country Manager, Henry Seymour, confirmed to Econoff the
airline plans to begin its first direct flight from Lagos
Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) to New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on July 17.
Seymour reiterated his request for consular assistance to
provide training to NAA staff on document fraud. End Summary.
--------------
The Official Launch - July 17
--------------
2. (SBU) NAA Country Manager, Henry Seymour, told ConGen
Lagos officers the NAA chartered flight would leave
Baltimore, MD on July 16th for Abuja, and then proceed to
Lagos. The inaugural flight is scheduled to depart Lagos MMIA
at 11:55am on Monday, July 17.
3. (SBU) In preparation for the inaugural, NAA hired US-based
International Security Defense Systems (ISDS) consultants to
train NAA's Nigerian security staff on airport security
including: passenger profiling, baggage and checkpoint
screening, passenger body search, x-ray and metal detector
procedures, ramp security, and aircraft search. According to
Seymour, the ISDS team will visit Lagos early July 2006 to
begin the two-week training course.
--------------
Consular Assistance
--------------
4. (SBU) Seymour requested consular assistance during the
first few weeks of the new flight, particularly in the area
of training staff on document inspections (reftels). He
requested that ConGen's Anti-Fraud Unit train NAA staff on
the detection of fraudulent documents including passports,
viss, and US permanent residence cards. Seymour noted that
NAA also needed assistance with background checks and the
support of a Locally Employed Staff (LES) investigator from
the Fraud Prevention Unit during the first two weeks of NAA's
service. Resource constraints will prevent ConGen's long-term
commitment to have staff assigned at the airport. (Note: Per
reftel A, Post has transmitted an action request for
pre-flight inspection assistance for the first 90 days of
service from the Department of Homeland Security. End note.)
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) There are approximately five weeks remaining before
the first NAA direct flight from Lagos to New York. The
successful operation of NAA in Nigeria will mark a
significant turning point for Nigerian aviation by
re-establishing a low cost flight provided by a US carrier
that can satisfy growing demand for reliable nonstop
passenger service to the US. While welcome as a signal that
the Nigerian aviation sector is becoming more open, this
development will place a tax on our Consular Section as we
deploy officers to the airport to assist in fraud prevention
on their direct flight to the US. End Comment.
BROWNE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS FAA FOR ACONLEY,
TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA; DAKAR PLEASE PASS TO FAA REP ED
JONES; ROME PLEASE PASS TO TSA REP JOHN HALINSKI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CMGT EAIR EINV KFRD PREL NI
SUBJECT: NORTH AMERICAN AIRLINES JULY 17 INAUGURAL FLIGHT
FROM LAGOS TO NEW YORK
REF: A. LAGOS 790
B. LAGOS 673
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) On June 9, the North American Airlines (NAA) Nigeria
Country Manager, Henry Seymour, confirmed to Econoff the
airline plans to begin its first direct flight from Lagos
Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) to New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on July 17.
Seymour reiterated his request for consular assistance to
provide training to NAA staff on document fraud. End Summary.
--------------
The Official Launch - July 17
--------------
2. (SBU) NAA Country Manager, Henry Seymour, told ConGen
Lagos officers the NAA chartered flight would leave
Baltimore, MD on July 16th for Abuja, and then proceed to
Lagos. The inaugural flight is scheduled to depart Lagos MMIA
at 11:55am on Monday, July 17.
3. (SBU) In preparation for the inaugural, NAA hired US-based
International Security Defense Systems (ISDS) consultants to
train NAA's Nigerian security staff on airport security
including: passenger profiling, baggage and checkpoint
screening, passenger body search, x-ray and metal detector
procedures, ramp security, and aircraft search. According to
Seymour, the ISDS team will visit Lagos early July 2006 to
begin the two-week training course.
--------------
Consular Assistance
--------------
4. (SBU) Seymour requested consular assistance during the
first few weeks of the new flight, particularly in the area
of training staff on document inspections (reftels). He
requested that ConGen's Anti-Fraud Unit train NAA staff on
the detection of fraudulent documents including passports,
viss, and US permanent residence cards. Seymour noted that
NAA also needed assistance with background checks and the
support of a Locally Employed Staff (LES) investigator from
the Fraud Prevention Unit during the first two weeks of NAA's
service. Resource constraints will prevent ConGen's long-term
commitment to have staff assigned at the airport. (Note: Per
reftel A, Post has transmitted an action request for
pre-flight inspection assistance for the first 90 days of
service from the Department of Homeland Security. End note.)
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) There are approximately five weeks remaining before
the first NAA direct flight from Lagos to New York. The
successful operation of NAA in Nigeria will mark a
significant turning point for Nigerian aviation by
re-establishing a low cost flight provided by a US carrier
that can satisfy growing demand for reliable nonstop
passenger service to the US. While welcome as a signal that
the Nigerian aviation sector is becoming more open, this
development will place a tax on our Consular Section as we
deploy officers to the airport to assist in fraud prevention
on their direct flight to the US. End Comment.
BROWNE