NIGERIA: Delta Abuja-New York Route, One Step Closer

UNCLAS ABUJA 000592

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS TO USTDA-MARIN; EXIM-RICHTER
BAGHDAD FOR MCCULLOUGH
ROME PASS TO TSA - ANTHONY GIOVANNIELLO
DAKAR PASS TO FAA - MOIRA KEANE
DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA MEL CINTRON, AHARRIS
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KAREN BURRESS AND 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/MCREED

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON EAID ASEC ERTD EINV PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: Delta Abuja-New York Route, One Step Closer

REF: A. ABUJA 456

B. ABUJA 361

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; BUSINESS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION; NOT
FOR DISSEMINATION OUTSIDE USG


1. (SBU) Summary: Ambassador met with Minister of Aviation
Babatunde Omotoba on April 3 to ensure that the Minister understood
that Delta Airlines had taken steps to meet the Minister's request
to upgrade their customer service and antiquated planes on the Lagos
to Atlanta route as a condition for providing the approval for a new
Abuja-New York route to open in June 2009. Ambassador provided the
Minister with a follow-up copy of the letter from Delta Sr. Vice
President Bob Cortelyou, stating that Delta will replace existing
equipment on the Lagos route with a Boeing 777-200 plane and new
arrival and departure times. In addition the Ambassador advocated
for approval for the new Abuja to New York route to begin June 8
with a 757 plane with modern amenities. The Minister told the
Ambassador that he would agree to approve the route as a result of
her visit and promised to respond the week of April 6-11 to her
request for a letter to this effect. Omotoba added that the Nigeria
Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) would prepare the paperwork for his
signature. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Ambassador met with Minister of Aviation, Babatunde Omotoba
on April 3 to further push for approval for Delta Airlines to have
the Abuja-New York route on April 3 with EconOff as notetaker. She
noted that the company had met the request of the Minister to
upgrade its customer service and planes on the existing
Lagos-Atlanta route. Ambassador briefed that she had spoken with
Delta as promised in their March 5 meeting and that Delta has met
the Minister's concerns. She provided the Minister with another
copy of the letter from Delta Sr. Vice President Bob Cortelyou
stating that effective July 1, 2009; a new Boeing 777-200 would also
be available for the Lagos-Atlanta route. This service will operate
a minimum of five times per week, with new approximate timings of a
1630 arrival into Lagos and a 2230 departure from Lagos. The new
equipment and these new flight times will meet and hopefully exceed
the customer service and baggage service expectations of the
ministry and the Nigerian community.


3. (SBU) Ambassador told the Minister that Delta needed to begin
its Abuja-New York route by June 8, in order to ensure the other
changes for the Lagos-Atlanta route and transfer and close another
routing to accommodate opening the Abuja-New York flights with a new
Boeing 757 with appropriate amenities. Minister said based on the
Ambassador's demarche he would approve the route and accepted
Delta's efforts. Ambassador then asked for a letter to her
confirming the approval of the new Abuja-New York route on June 8,
but the Boeing 777-200 plane for the Lagos-Atlanta route on July 1.
Minister agreed there would be no problem and that a letter would be
forthcoming. Ambassador also stressed that time was of the essence
as Delta needs a firm response no later than April 11, 2009 to take
these business steps.


8. This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos.

SANDERS