Kunle Aderinokun
26 September 2006
Abuja — A United States-based firm, West Coast Airlines Inc. (WCA), said yesterday in Abuja, that it was finalising arrangements with necessary regulatory agencies in the Nigerian aviation sector, to fly a direct non-stop flight between Nigeria and the United States before the end of this year.
The airline, which said it would meet with President Olusegun Obasanjo "very soon on the proposal," said it has secured the approval of the American aviation authority to that effect, and was ready to pump in about $50 million into the company, which will have its base in Nigeria.
Briefing newsmen, Chief Executive Officer, West Coast Airlines Inc, Mr Chris Nnamdi Agu, said the company, which has been on the projects for about three years, planned to create an aviation hub in Nigeria for flight to other African countries.
According to him, "West Coast Airlines will operate as a long haul, international airline that provides transportation services for customers that are seeking a direct flight between the United States and Nigeria. Initially, WCA will be the only airline in the world that offers a direct, non-stop route between the United States and any location in Africa.
"WCA will fly between the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey or JFK International Airport in New York and the Abuja International Airport in Abuja or Lagos Interantional Airport in Lagos."
He disclosed that "the company will utilized two Boeing 767-300 long haul airplanes in their operations to ensure that a daily round trip flight occurs from both the locations that WCA will be flying from."
Agu also disclosed that the financing that will be used to fund the operations of the airlines will be sourced locally from Nigerian investors saying the company was coming to create a paradigm shift from the era when proceeds of foreign direct investment are repatriated back to the country of origin.
According to him, "we have been working on the project for about three years and felt that it is time to bring into fruition. A lot of money that is coming from airlines goes overseas but this one will be here. That is the main reason why we are here.
"Our company will be the one that will create an aviation hub in Nigeria. Having a hub in Nigeria means if you want to get to African, you will pass through Nigeria."
Agu who believed that tourism was not vibrant enough in Nigeria, said his company want to increase tourism in the country. "West Coast wants to increase tourism, the Nigerian tourism is not vibrant enough. We want to open up the tourism market," he said.
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