The Nigerian independent airline, Virgin Nigeria has announced that it is changing its name to Nigerian Eagle Airlines and parting company with founder, Virgin Atlantic Limited.
British billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic had said it was looking to sell its 49 per cent stake in the airline, for which it paid around $25 million in 2005 and Nigerian Eagle is currently in talks with international investors to raise fresh capital. The newly rebranded carrier’s Chief Executive, Captain Dapo Olumide, said it was not just about a name change, but “a new dawn that has birthed, an aspirational airline that will rule the African skies and a representation of the future of African aviation.” In January 2009 the Lagos-based airline, cancelled its long haul services to Gatwick and Johannesburg citing severe economic conditions. However it recently took delivery of a second Embraer 190 and has eight more on order, all expected to be delivered over the next two years. With a further six Embraer 190/195s on option which will replace the airline’s Boeing 737 fleet when their leases expire in 2011, Nigerian Eagle is set to remain a prominent part of the growing Aviation sector in Nigeria.
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