Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA925
2009-05-28 14:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIA: MINISTER MAY DENY CONTINENTAL AIRLINE'S NEW ROUTE
how-toVZCZCXRO0841 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #0925 1481405 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 281405Z MAY 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6124 INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 1389 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0322 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0420 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0379 RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
UNCLAS ABUJA 000925
SENSTITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO USTDA-MARIN; EXIM-RICHTER
DEPT PASS USAID AFR/SD FOR CURTIS AND ATWOOD
BAGHDAD FOR MCCULLOUGH
ROME PASS TO TSA - ANTHONY GIOVANNIELLO
DAKAR PASS TO FAA - MOIRA KEANE
DOT 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: MINISTER MAY DENY CONTINENTAL AIRLINE'S NEW ROUTE
REF: A. ABUJA 612
B. ABUJA 592
C. ABUJA 456
D. ABUJA 361
E. 06 LAGOS 1648
F. 06 LAGOS 1646
G. 05 LAGOS 2029
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; BUSINESS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION; NOT
FOR DISSEMINATION OUTSIDE USG
UNCLAS ABUJA 000925
SENSTITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO USTDA-MARIN; EXIM-RICHTER
DEPT PASS USAID AFR/SD FOR CURTIS AND ATWOOD
BAGHDAD FOR MCCULLOUGH
ROME PASS TO TSA - ANTHONY GIOVANNIELLO
DAKAR PASS TO FAA - MOIRA KEANE
DOT 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: MINISTER MAY DENY CONTINENTAL AIRLINE'S NEW ROUTE
REF: A. ABUJA 612
B. ABUJA 592
C. ABUJA 456
D. ABUJA 361
E. 06 LAGOS 1648
F. 06 LAGOS 1646
G. 05 LAGOS 2029
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; BUSINESS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION; NOT
FOR DISSEMINATION OUTSIDE USG
1. (SBU) During the course of a May 11 meeting arranged so that a
U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator could
brief Minister of Aviation Babatunde Omotoba on the status of
reviews into the crashes of a two Nigerian Airliners several years
ago, the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) thanked Omotoba for approving
Delta Airlines for commencement of the New York - Abuja operation
into Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on 8th June, 2009
(reftel A). DCM then asked the status of Diplomatic Note 2009-531
dated April 28 conveying Continental Airlines' request to open a
route between Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and
Newark, New Jersey. Omotoba responded that he would not approve any
new service by U.S. airlines, including Continental and United
(which had approached him personally),until the U.S. grants a FAA
Category 1 rating to Nigeria. He complained that U.S. carriers
would take all the passenger traffic from Nigeria to the U.S.,
depriving Nigerian carriers of the chance to earn revenue. DCM
explained what the Ambassador has told him many times (reftel A)
that Category I and Nigeria's obligations under the Open Skies
Agreement represent two different processes, and issuance of
Category 1 cannot be held over the heads of U.S. carriers.
2. (SBU) Comment. Omotoba continues to avoid the fact that Category
1 is earned and not purchased. He is clearly pressured by the
Nigerian carriers, particularly Arik Airline, and their investors to
pave the way by the end of the year for a Nigerian airline to land
on U.S. soil. The Minister is also hosting discussions with
developers and airport operators globally to invest in much needed
aviation infrastructure build-out. Category 1 undoubtedly plays
into the interest of potential investors adding even more pressure
on the minister. In addition, at a May 27 event for the signing of
a General Electric (GE) MOU with the Government of Nigeria, Chairman
of Arik Airline, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Johnson, noted to Ambassador his
goal of having his airline land in New York by October 2009.
Ambassador re-stressed not only Category 1 but TSA Rules will need
to apply. End Comment.
7. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
SANDERS
SENSTITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO USTDA-MARIN; EXIM-RICHTER
DEPT PASS USAID AFR/SD FOR CURTIS AND ATWOOD
BAGHDAD FOR MCCULLOUGH
ROME PASS TO TSA - ANTHONY GIOVANNIELLO
DAKAR PASS TO FAA - MOIRA KEANE
DOT 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: MINISTER MAY DENY CONTINENTAL AIRLINE'S NEW ROUTE
REF: A. ABUJA 612
B. ABUJA 592
C. ABUJA 456
D. ABUJA 361
E. 06 LAGOS 1648
F. 06 LAGOS 1646
G. 05 LAGOS 2029
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; BUSINESS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION; NOT
FOR DISSEMINATION OUTSIDE USG
1. (SBU) During the course of a May 11 meeting arranged so that a
U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator could
brief Minister of Aviation Babatunde Omotoba on the status of
reviews into the crashes of a two Nigerian Airliners several years
ago, the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) thanked Omotoba for approving
Delta Airlines for commencement of the New York - Abuja operation
into Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on 8th June, 2009
(reftel A). DCM then asked the status of Diplomatic Note 2009-531
dated April 28 conveying Continental Airlines' request to open a
route between Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and
Newark, New Jersey. Omotoba responded that he would not approve any
new service by U.S. airlines, including Continental and United
(which had approached him personally),until the U.S. grants a FAA
Category 1 rating to Nigeria. He complained that U.S. carriers
would take all the passenger traffic from Nigeria to the U.S.,
depriving Nigerian carriers of the chance to earn revenue. DCM
explained what the Ambassador has told him many times (reftel A)
that Category I and Nigeria's obligations under the Open Skies
Agreement represent two different processes, and issuance of
Category 1 cannot be held over the heads of U.S. carriers.
2. (SBU) Comment. Omotoba continues to avoid the fact that Category
1 is earned and not purchased. He is clearly pressured by the
Nigerian carriers, particularly Arik Airline, and their investors to
pave the way by the end of the year for a Nigerian airline to land
on U.S. soil. The Minister is also hosting discussions with
developers and airport operators globally to invest in much needed
aviation infrastructure build-out. Category 1 undoubtedly plays
into the interest of potential investors adding even more pressure
on the minister. In addition, at a May 27 event for the signing of
a General Electric (GE) MOU with the Government of Nigeria, Chairman
of Arik Airline, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Johnson, noted to Ambassador his
goal of having his airline land in New York by October 2009.
Ambassador re-stressed not only Category 1 but TSA Rules will need
to apply. End Comment.
7. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
SANDERS