I don't quite understand why everyone is getting worked up over this.
This reminds me of a lot of the comments made here:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...virgin+nigeria

and look how well VS is doing there. In fact the route is doing so well, that this Christmas there are going to be extra VS services from LGW to LOS.

Of course RB can't predict the future, but you bet he has a lot of good people working on the project.

Virgin Nigeria
 

When will Virgin Nigeria start flying?I heard they were starting the operation with A-320's. Where are the crews and the aircraft coming from. It seems to have gone a bit quiet since the original press release.

They are recruiting, see this post.

Ghana Scareways
 

1165 Ghana Scareways workers ... I shake my head in disbelief ...

Ghana Scareways
1165 Ghana Scareways workers ... I shake my head in disbelief ...
____________________________________________________

Call them Staff Guns, otherwise someone could really believe that they are actually working:ooh:

Yip Staf you can call them. Here in SL they go to "work" every day. The boss still drives around in his newish Toyota Prado with no aircraft coming (or going) :p :p :p

We might call it ... in anticpation (or constipation) ;)

Viirgin Nigeria
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Branson rides to rescue of Nigerian airline
Christian Allen Purefoy, Chronicle Foreign Service

Friday, November 26, 2004

Lagos, Nigeria -- Packed into a makeshift corrugated hangar, the lifeless, grimy planes and equipment from Nigeria's defunct flag carrier, Nigeria Airways, lie in tribute to the corrupt system that ultimately stole everything from it.

To fill the void, British billionaire Richard Branson and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo plan a new start -- Virgin Nigeria.

Despite the promise of foreign investment and a functional airline, many Nigerians resent the choice of Virgin as well as the corruption that brought down Nigeria Airways in May 2003.

On Sept. 28, Virgin's Branson met with Obasanjo and signed a memorandum of nutual understanding.

It formally established Virgin Atlantic Ltd. as a technical partner in the nation's new flagship carrier, holding 49 percent of the shares. The other 51 percent is held by Nigerian institutional investors via a private placement process that will start soon.

As yet Virgin has no license from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, but perhaps Virgin is right to be cautious. A report on Nigeria Airways by Nigerian justice Obiora Nwazota discovered that more than $400 million in hard currency and 300 million naira ($2.15 million) had been embezzled from Nigeria Airways.

Employing more than 27 executive chiefs since its inception in 1958 and coping with excessive government interference meant that the national carrier was forced to cannibalize its own planes to keep flights in the air.

Total initial investment in Virgin Nigeria is expected to be about $50 million, with about $24.5 million coming from Virgin Atlantic. Opponents argue that $50 million is barely enough for even one Boeing 737, which retails for between $33 million and $37 million.

Putting almost 50 percent of the shares in the hands of a foreign company is also seen as something of a disgrace to many Nigerians.

They're particularly vocal about the use of Virgin's corporate name alongside the country's name -- further removing the notion of a national carrier.

"They are deceiving themselves," said Razak Saidu, general secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Nigeria's airline workers union. "It is a private line, not a national carrier."

Many are angry that a company already operating in the country was allowed into the process. They accuse Virgin of using the opportunity to hold the flight paths available to a national carrier.

"It is morally bankrupt for the airline to have applied in the first place," said Capt. Dele Ore, aviation consultant and former director of operations of Nigeria Airways.

Former workers from Nigeria Airways, through their union, are threatening to prevent Virgin Nigeria from leaving the runway unless the government pays them their pensions and two years of salary in arrears.

"We will frustrate any efforts by Virgin Nigeria to take off," Saidu said.

About 1,200 workers and 3,600 pensioners are demanding the more than $68 million they claim they are owed.

The International Transport Workers Federation has written to both Obasanjo and Branson about the situation of the workers and the liquidated Nigeria Airways.

In response, Virgin Nigeria spokesman Dotun Adekanmbi said, "We are truly sympathetic to their plight, but, really, it is not a Virgin Nigeria issue per se."

Nonetheless, if the new airline flies under a national imprint, corruption and responsibility are issues it will have to face every time it lands in Lagos.

Before Virgin, the nation of South Africa, though its Nigerian Eagle Airlines carrier, was initially set up as a technical partner with Nigeria. Nigerian Eagle Airlines appointed advisers and consultants to develop the airline, but this deal fell through for unknown reasons. Branson said that "Within just a few years, Virgin Nigeria expects to be directly employing several thousand people in Nigeria and creating a further 20,000 new jobs indirectly via its suppliers, partners and activities at Lagos Airport."

In a country where everyone has a horror story about local flights -- being thrown to the floor by turbulence, for example, -- many welcome the entry of an internationally respected airline.

The government is desperate to attract such investment to support its National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy, which is "anchored on the private sector as the engine of growth."

The administration is seeking to expand Nigerian industry separate from oil. With high-profile companies like Virgin investing in Nigeria, the government hopes others will follow.

However, the privatization of public services, such as transportation, power and communications -- a policy pushed by the International Monetary Fund -- is seen by many Nigerians as the government's failure to meet its social responsibilities.

Virgin already operates airlines in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand. It plans to expand not just to Nigeria but to India and the United States as well. Virgin USA, its planned discount carrier, will be partially based at San Francisco International Airport.

Virgin is not the only foreign airline to be financially involved with an African national carrier. KLM Royal Dutch and Air France-KLM hold 26 percent of Kenya Airways, whose profit rose to $18.4 million in September.

However, the irony of a British entrepreneur commissioning the Nigerian national airline on Oct. 1, Nigeria's Independence Day, was not lost on the Nigerian public, with one newspaper column proclaiming, "Bravo! The British are back!"

However, as Virgin spokesman Adekanmbi stressed, "Virgin Nigeria is not a foreign company. It is a private sector-driven Nigerian company," and stock ownership will be open to Nigerian investors through an initial public offering on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A successful flag carrier would be the perfect opportunity for Obasanjo to extol his attempts at greater economic transparency to woo more international investment


as it has all been said I guess the future is lookiing brighter now???? :D

Virgin Nigeria starts recruiting
 

Gentlemen,

Virgin Nigeria has initiated its recruitment program. No mention to pilots !?, current vacancies include:

- Head of HR
- HR Advisor
- Senior PA to CEO/Head of HR
- Chief Operating Officer
- Training Standards Manager
- Director of Engineering
- Safety/Security/Quality Manager
- Director Flight Operations
- Chief Pilot
- Cabin Crew Manager
- Inflight Services Manager
- Cabin Crew
- Airport Managers (LOS, ABV, PHC, West Africa Outstations Relief)
- Ramp Officer (LOS, ABV, PHC, West Africa Outstations)
-Duty Managers
- Airport Supervisors
- Financial Controller
- Accountant (qualified)
- Accounts Payable/Receivable Clerk
- Accounts Assistant
- Revenue Account Supervisor
- Revenue Accounts Clerk
- Internal Audit/Controls
- Procurement Manager
- Procurement Assistant
- Head of IT
- Manager Operations & Commercial Systems
- IT Support Analyst (Help Desk)
- Manager IT Architecture
- Web Master
- Receptionist Head of Sales and Distribution Channels
- Head of Marketing and Product
- PR & Marketing Assistant
- Customer Relations Assistant
- Head of Network & Revenue Management Planning
- Route Network Analyst
- RM & Pricing AnalystCommercial Director
- Sales and Marketing Managers (Airport, City, Outstations)
- Ticketing and Reservations (Airport, City, Outstations)
- Account Managers (Airport, City, Outstations)

More information for applying is found on:

http://www.virginnigeria.com/jobs.html

Virgin Nigeria(V/N)
 

Rani,

Things seem to be on a roll here, hopefully with this airline taking off, that should suck up alot of the experienced guys from the local airlines which should leave alot of job openings for the newly qualified gang. Oh and what do u reckon the chances are of a newly qualified pilot getting into V/N, afterall, they are gonna be doing regional/local routes right???.

Regards AP

Virgin Nigeria now hiring
 

AlternativeProcedure,

I am not aware of the channels available for pilots to apply. I suspect Virgin Nigeria may have opted for other recruitment agencies (not the two consultants). Perhaps you can give Virgin Nigeria a call or send them an e-mail.

Thanks,

Virgin Nigeria now hiring ???

Hope they havn't issued to many employment letters yet !!!

As the rumour mongers in the Ministry will have it, even the HMA has realized that it's a no go and his frantic efforts to have BA as substitute didn't yield any result at all - smart ones these BA guys they leve it to Sir R. to get disvirgined :ouch:

oneeyed,

Why would the government or Virgin pull out of this private sector-driven initiative? I doubt the latest US DOT ban on Virgin Nigeria saga has any significant bearing on start up preparation.

Sir Richard Branson is not a virgin anyways and he won't give up as there arent any major hurdles just yet.

The rumours of the HMA flirting with BA is puzzling and I doubt any truth behind it.