VZCZCXRO0767
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #0592 0961707
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061707Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5691
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 1091
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0168
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0418
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0377
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC

UNCLAS ABUJA 000592 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PASS TO USTDA-MARIN; EXIM-RICHTER 
BAGHDAD FOR MCCULLOUGH 
ROME PASS TO TSA - ANTHONY GIOVANNIELLO 
DAKAR PASS TO FAA - MOIRA KEANE 
DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA MEL CINTRON, AHARRIS 
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KAREN BURRESS AND 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/MCREED 
 
E.O. 12598: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR ECON EAID ASEC ERTD EINV PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: Delta Abuja-New York Route, One Step Closer 
 
REF: A. ABUJA 456 
      ¶B. ABUJA 361 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; BUSINESS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION; NOT 
FOR DISSEMINATION OUTSIDE USG 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Ambassador met with Minister of Aviation 
Babatunde Omotoba on April 3 to ensure that the Minister understood 
that Delta Airlines had taken steps to meet the Minister's request 
to upgrade their customer service and antiquated planes on the Lagos 
to Atlanta route as a condition for providing the approval for a new 
Abuja-New York route to open in June 2009. Ambassador provided the 
Minister with a follow-up copy of the letter from Delta Sr. Vice 
President Bob Cortelyou, stating that Delta will replace existing 
equipment on the Lagos route with a Boeing 777-200 plane and new 
arrival and departure times. In addition the Ambassador advocated 
for approval for the new Abuja to New York route to begin June 8 
with a 757 plane with modern amenities.  The Minister told the 
Ambassador that he would agree to approve the route as a result of 
her visit and promised to respond the week of April 6-11 to her 
request for a letter to this effect.  Omotoba added that the Nigeria 
Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) would prepare the paperwork for his 
signature.   End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Ambassador met with Minister of Aviation, Babatunde Omotoba 
on April 3 to further push for approval for Delta Airlines to have 
the Abuja-New York route on April 3 with EconOff as notetaker.  She 
noted that the company had met the request of the Minister to 
upgrade its customer service and planes on the existing 
Lagos-Atlanta route.  Ambassador briefed that she had spoken with 
Delta as promised in their March 5 meeting and that Delta has met 
the Minister's concerns.  She provided the Minister with another 
copy of the letter from Delta Sr. Vice President Bob Cortelyou 
stating that effective July 1, 2009; a new Boeing 777-200 would also 
be available for the Lagos-Atlanta route.  This service will operate 
a minimum of five times per week, with new approximate timings of a 
1630 arrival into Lagos and a 2230 departure from Lagos.  The new 
equipment and these new flight times will meet and hopefully exceed 
the customer service and baggage service expectations of the 
ministry and the Nigerian community. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Ambassador told the Minister that Delta needed to begin 
its Abuja-New York route by June 8, in order to ensure the other 
changes for the Lagos-Atlanta route and transfer and close another 
routing to accommodate opening the Abuja-New York flights with a new 
Boeing 757 with appropriate amenities.  Minister said based on the 
Ambassador's demarche he would approve the route and accepted 
Delta's efforts.  Ambassador then asked for a letter to her 
confirming the approval of the new Abuja-New York route on June 8, 
but the Boeing 777-200 plane for the Lagos-Atlanta route on July 1. 
Minister agreed there would be no problem and that a letter would be 
forthcoming.  Ambassador also stressed that time was of the essence 
as Delta needs a firm response no later than April 11, 2009 to take 
these business steps. 
 
¶8. This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. 
 
SANDERS