American carrier, Delta Air Lines, on Monday said it had flown 1.2 million passengers between Lagos and Atlanta in its 10 years of operations in Nigeria.
Mr Bob Cortelyou, Senior Vice President, Network Planning, Delta Air Lines, made this known at a news briefing in Lagos to mark the airline’s 10 years anniversary in Nigeria.
Cortelyou, who noted that Delta had operated 6,300 non-stop flights on the Lagos-Atlanta route, said Nigeria remains a very key market to the airline.
He said: “I am very pleased to announce to you that we are launching a second route from Lagos to JFK Airport, New York, starting from March 25,2018.
“Delta Air Lines is the only foreign airline operating non-stop flights between Nigeria and the United States and we have carried over 1.2 million passengers between the two nations since our inaugural flight on Dec. 4, 2007.”
According to him, the non-stop flight option has made travelling between both nations very convenient for passengers.
Also speaking, Mr Shane Spyak, Delta Air Lines’ Vice President, Sales, Europe, Middle East, Africa and India, said the projections for the Nigerian market had a positive outlook.
Spyak said the Nigerian economy was getting out of recession while the issue of not being able to repatriate funds due to lack of foreign exchange had been resolved.
“Repatriation of funds was difficult for a period of one and a half years but I am pleased to say those issues are fully behind us.
“As at now, we are able to repatriate any amount we want and that is one of the reasons for our route expansion in Nigeria,” he said.
Mr Bobby Bryan, Commercial Director, East and West Africa and Mr Olufemi Adefope, Delta General Sales Agent, who also spoke at the event, thanked the Nigerian people for their support and patronage.
They both assured customers that the airline would continue to invest in modern aircraft towards ensuring their comfort and safety. (NAN)
