United States carrier, United Airlines, will stop flying to
Nigeria next month, ending operations on its only African route because of
weakness in the energy sector and difficulties in repatriating money from
tickets sold in the country.
According to Punch, the Head of Press, Europe, Africa,
Middle East and India, United Airlines, Mr. Kevin Johnston, said, “United
confirms that it will discontinue its service between Houston and Lagos. The
last departure from Houston will be on June 29 and the last departure from
Lagos will be on June 30.
“We have regretfully taken this decision because of the
route’s poor financial performance. We will contact customers with bookings for
flights beyond those dates to provide refunds. We apologise for any
inconvenience caused.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s foreign exchange policy has
restricted the movement of foreign currencies abroad after the global slump in
oil prices depleted the country’s foreign reserves.
This came barely six weeks after Spain’s national carrier,
Iberia Plc, stopped flights to Nigeria, citing dwindling passenger traffic as
the reason.
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