London to Lagos

[BWBriscoe]

I have been rostered for the first time LHR-LOS (BA).

I was curious to know what type of clientele fly this route? Is it a predominantly business or leisure route?

I was surprised to find out that this route justifies a 744, can anybody enlighten me as to who flies to Lagos, or who from Lagos flies to London?

Cheers

BWB

[Globaliser]

As I understand it, one big driver is a word of three letters: OIL.

[chipsbrand]

LHR-LOS is a very important route for BA. The timetable shows that frequency will increase next summer. It certainly justifies a 744 and the demand is from every conceivable sector except tourism to Nigeria. Oil is just one sector of demand. Just as important are Nigerian traders visiting LON to buy retail supplies and so are relatives visiting their families in Britain. If BA had a bigger aircraft than the 744 they would probably use it on LOS.

[BWBriscoe]

What's the trip like itself? What's Lagos like?

[Hotel Mode]

Lagos is a dangerous dump, leaving the hotel not recommended. Trip can be quite sociable as you end up holed up in hotel bar with VS and KL.

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hi,

On previous Virgin Atlantic flights ( in Upper Class) :ok: , I got talking to the cabin crew for a while whilst seated at the bar and the crew I spoke to mentioned that they dislike Lagos ( arrive, get driven to the hotel where they stay overnight and then get driven back to the airport the next day, never having left the hotel.

( Of course,there will be the bar

;) )

Regards

TBS

[Flame]

My experience, is that almost all routes from Europe to Lagos are almost always full

Lagos is such a wonderfull place that Air France crews are flown out to another country rather than resting in Lagos, that alone should tell you what Lagos is like

[spanishflea]

Probably mentioned in the ATC Humour thread several times but rather fitting here:

Sticker seen on the side of a Captains flight case: Happiness is V1 at Lagos

[WHBM]

From London BA have the daily 747 plus three 767 or 777 a week. Virgin have a daily A340. Virgin have also started a separate operator Virgin Nigeria which is leasing one of their A340s and does three trips a week. There's also Belleview Airlines, a Nigerian independent, who come into Heathrow T2 three times a week via Freetown, Sierra Leone with 767s. Finally there is so much cargo on this route that Das Air out of Gatwick do typically two freight trips a week with a DC-10.

So it's a busy route. When you get to Lagos you will also find the most amazing collection of ex-European hand-me-downs on internal flights.

[spanishflea]

Are Bellview still flying the 767 fleet? I know they grounded the 732s after the crash but I'm not sure if it applied to the 767s or not?

[DISCOKID]

I thought Nigeria was one of BA's most profitable routes (and THE most profitable a few years back... although due to the amount of fraud they apparently woudln't let people buy a ticket using a credit card)

[femialpha]

Lagos is indeed rumoured to be BA's most profitable route. Anyone in doubt should take a look at the increased frequency to Nigeria.

Flight bookings to Nigeria and a host of other countries are not allowed using credit cards. I once had to go to JFK to personally pay for my ticket to ABV!

[striparella]

Ah, Lagos.

It's a profitable route for cargo, and for the fact it's always busy.

The good people of Nigeria don't give a toss about events that effect the industry like other nations do.

Terrorism, the cost of fuel, safety concerns - means nothing. They just get on and do what they want to do - go and visit family and friends.

I loved the LOS route and still love working with these pax on the ground. You can laugh and joke with them like you never could with other nationalities and there's always something interesting going on.

On board they want their money's worth so it can be quite profitable in terms of duty free - but you have to play it right.

Nigeria is a beautiful country, just very corrupt which is why unfortunately you'll have your armed escort to and from the bomb proof section of your hotel.

Don't leave the hotel, but just enjoy the experience of the LOS route - i mean, it's only a one nighter and a six hour flight - hardly a taxing route!

[goldeneye]

Flight bookings to Nigeria and a host of other countries are not allowed using credit cards. I once had to go to JFK to personally pay for my ticket to ABV!

Tell me about it, i work for one of the big UK travel companies, and the ammount of Credit card fraud we get on nigeria bookings is scary. So much so, we will no longer make bookings over the phone and all nigeria bookings must be made via a branch, the credit card holders must be the lead name and travelling on the booking, If not its Cash only.