Delta Air Lines this week began a twice-weekly service between Abuja
and New York, the first direct flight connecting the Nigerian capital
and the United States.
The
world's biggest airline says the new service would strengthen business
and tourism between Nigeria and the United States. Delta expects to
expand the Abuja-New York service to three flights per week starting
next month.
Abuja is the second destination in Nigeria to be
served by Delta Air Lines. The airline's route to Lagos, Nigeria's
commercial capital, is one of its most profitable.
Delta's
commercial manager, Bobby Bryan, told reporters that Nigeria was a key
aspect of the airline's international network plans.
"I want to
emphasize our commitment to the Nigerian market," he said. "This new
flight is a key part of Delta's African expansion and ensures that we
maintain our position as the number one US carrier to Nigeria and more
broadly to Africa."
Delta currently operates flights from the
United States to five African destinations; Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana,
Senegal and South Africa. International routes have become more
profitable options for U.S. airlines struggling under a weakening
domestic economy.
Delta plans to switch to bigger aircraft in
July to cope with the high demand for its service between Lagos and
Atlanta, offering an additional 50 seats for the Lagos market.
The
leading U.S. carrier says it is also excited about the additional cargo
opportunities the new Abuja route will provide, offering same-day
shipment to many cities across the United States.
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