Delta deepens ‘Open Skies, begins New York-Lagos flight
The United States carrier, Delta has again activated the ‘Open Skies’ aviation pact it has with Nigeria by launching a new nonstop service from Lagos to New York-JFK, linking the financial capital of Nigeria to the financial capital of the world.
Delta may have taken advantage of the stoppage of New York by Arik Air to New York as the Nigerian carrier abruptly stopped the lucrative route.
Nigeria and the US in 2000 signed the ‘Open Skies’ pact when former President Bill Clinton came to Nigeria with President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The New York-JFK route complements the airline’s existing flight to Atlanta, providing a daily departure and more travel choice to the U.S. than ever before.
Many had criticised the pact saying that the country entered the agreement when her carriers were not ready and non-existent.
It took many years before Arik Air after it was established to venture into the route, giving competition to Delta and later, United.
United, however pulled out of the country in 2016, citing recession and trapped funds that ran into over $500 million owed several airlines at that period. The government has however released all the monies owed the airlines.
With the development, Delta now operates two non-stop flights to Lagos from New York and Atlanta.
At a press briefing yesterday, Delta’s senior vice president – Europe, Middle East, Africa and India, Corneel Koster said, “With the U.S. the largest foreign investor in Nigeria, this new route underscores our commitment to the market by facilitating trade and commerce between our nations,”
“We’re proud of Delta’s 10-year history in Nigeria and that we are the only airline to offer daily nonstop flights, bringing benefits to Nigerian business travellers while also providing more opportunities to reunite with families and friends across the United States”, he added.
The New York-JFK flight will operate three times weekly, with Delta’s existing services to Atlanta departing on the other four days. Customers flying to Delta’s New York-JFK hub will benefit from more than XX connections across the U.S. to destinations including: Washington D.C., Baltimore and Chicago.
Delta’s New York-JFK and Atlanta flights from Lagos are operated using 234-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Offering an elevated onboard experience in every cabin, Delta’s services from Lagos feature:
• Fully flat-bed seats in Delta One that extend to 6’4” in length and offer greater privacy through their angled configuration.
• Regionally-inspired menus created using locally-sourced ingredients and served with a wide selection of fruit juices and complimentary spirits, beers and wines – including prosecco – in Main Cabin.
• Free mobile messaging via WhatsApp, iMessage and Facebook Messenger, keeping passengers fully connected with friends, family, colleagues and clients, plus optional access to high-speed Wi-Fi.
• Delta Studio in-flight entertainment – over 1,000 hours of content, including Nollywood movies, to watch on seat-back screens or steam to a laptop, tablet or mobile with no Wi-Fi charge.
• RFID bag tracking technology, enabling customers to keep track of their bag’s location from check-in to the baggage carousel through notifications sent to their mobile phones.
Delta’s Lagos – New York-JFK service is scheduled to operate as follows
Flight DL 478 departs Lagos at at 23:30 and arrives New York-JFK at 05:30 next day on Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday while Flight DL415 departs New York-JFK 22:55 and arrives Lagos 14:30 next day Monday, Wednesday, Saturday.
From L to R: Bobby Bryan, Commercial Director, East and West Africa; Corneel Koster, Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle East, Africa and India both of Delta Air Lines and Femi Adefope, Managing Director, Skylogistics, Delta General Sales Agent in Nigeria during the press conference announcement of the new Delta Air Lines Lagos New York route in Lagos.
From L to R: Delta team with the media during the press conference announcement of the new Delta Air Lines Lagos New York route in Lagos.
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