US embassy cable - 04ABUJA2121

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002121 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/PD-ZABRISKIE, Epstein-AF/W, 
DeMars/Faux-Gable-EB/TRA/AN 
 
LAGOS FOR PAS, ECON 
 
DOT FOR OIA, ALSO FAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, EAIR, SCUL, OIIP, PREL, NI 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. POSITION ON VIRGIN 
NIGERIA AIRWAYS CRITICIZED 
 
 
1. Summary: On December 16, PAS Abuja kicked off 
its Thursday media briefings with Embassy Econ 
Counselor Joseph Gregoire addressing about half a 
dozen media reps on the USG position on Virgin 
Nigeria Airways.  Gregoire, supported by CPAO 
Claudia Anyaso, read verbatim from the talking 
points provided by Washington and then took 
questions.  The media briefing was picked up by 
the major broadcast stations the same day and the 
front pages of some major Nigerian newspapers the 
following day. Quotes follow.  End summary. 
 
2.  Independent Guardian, 12/17/04 
"Virgin Nigeria May Not Ply US Route" 
 
Briefing diplomatic correspondents yesterday, 
Gregoire said: "We face this current situation 
with Virgin Nigeria with deep regret after working 
so closely with Nigeria for so many years to 
establish the Nigerian service market.... If the 
Federal Government had selected an airline partner 
from a country other than the UK, the U.S. 
government, would be much more likely to give it 
favorable consideration." 
 
3.  Independent THISDAY, 12/17, 2004 
"We Won't Allow Virgin Nigeria Deal - US" 
 
"The United States government has formally said it 
will not allow the proposed Virgin Nigeria Airline 
to operate direct flights into its country [in] 
the same way the United Kingdom where Virgin 
Atlantic is based has refused to open the London 
market to US airlines.... The US Government, 
according to Gregoire, has a long-standing 
interest in improving air links with Africa and 
would welcome direct air service between the 
United States and Nigeria by a new Nigerian 
airline." 
 
4.  Nigeria Today Online, 12/17/04 
"Virgin Nigeria Can't Operate in USA" 
 
"We made our concerns known to both Virgin 
Atlantic and to the Nigerian Government well in 
advance of [the] conclusion of [the] partnership 
creating Virgin Nigeria.... Joseph Gegoire, U.S. 
Embassy official in Abuja[,] said Virgin Atlantic 
benefits from restrictions in US/UK bilateral 
relations and could not therefore benefit... from 
the open skies agreement between Nigeria and the 
US." 
 
5.  Independent Punch, 12/17/04 
"US Bars Virgin Nigeria" 
 
"The United States government has barred the new 
Nigerian flag carrier, Virgin Nigeria, from flying 
into its airspace.... The measure is coming in 
spite of the green light given by the federal 
government recently to a US carrier, Continental 
Airlines, to operate direct flights between Lagos 
and New York.... The envoy said, "'We have issues, 
serious issues with this new concern, Virgin 
Nigeria, which may apply to serve the US-Nigeria 
market.  First, in our eyes, this is not a 
Nigerian airline. According to reports to the US 
Government by UK-based Virgin Atlantic, it is an 
airline that is under the control of Virgin 
Atlantic.'" 
 
6.  Independent Guardian, 12/22/04 
"Government to Protest US Ban on Virgin Nigeria" 
 
"The Federal Government has resolved to officially 
protest to the United States against the decision 
not to allow the nation's new airline, Virgin 
Nigeria, to operate in that country.  The 
government has denied that the airline is owned by 
Virgin Atlantic....  Minister of Aviation, Mallam 
Isa Yuguda, frowned at the allegation [of] U.S. 
officials that the new national carrier, Virgin 
Nigeria, is owned by Virgin Atlantic of Britain." 
 
7.  Confirming the tenor of the above articles, 
the Aviation Minister told the Federal Radio 
Corporation of Nigeria on December 17 that the US 
position on Virgin Nigeria is a "misconception." 
 
FUREY