Virgin Nigeria Website and other Trouble

Hello folks,
Is it just me or does the Virgin Nigeria website really look like it was designed by a 3-year old? It is such an ugly scene. Besides looking uncoordinated, cluttered, substance-lacking, and plain clumsy, it is truly a shame and disgrace to the Virgin brand. What happened to the fun and sleek factor Virgin was once known for AROUND THE WORLD? are the folks at VS so oblivious to the way their investment at VK is perceived?

On another note they seem to be adding destinations at a snail pace (only new destinations this year are Kano and Dubai). The 737 fleet is building-up too slowly, and their Douala and Dakar services have been reduced to 2 weekly flights each....

If Virgin Nigeria doesn't pull it together and start brainstorming I fear other good Nigerian airlines like Arik Air and Aero will eventually push them out of their boring existence..........

Hello folks,
Is it just me or does the Virgin Nigeria website really look like it was designed by a 3-year old? It is such an ugly scene. Besides looking uncoordinated, cluttered, substance-lacking, and plain clumsy, it is truly a shame and disgrace to the Virgin brand. What happened to the fun and sleek factor Virgin was once known for AROUND THE WORLD? are the folks at VS so oblivious to the way their investment at VK is perceived?

On another note they seem to be adding destinations at a snail pace (only new destinations this year are Kano and Dubai). The 737 fleet is building-up too slowly, and their Douala and Dakar services have been reduced to 2 weekly flights each....

If Virgin Nigeria doesn't pull it together and start brainstorming I fear other good Nigerian airlines like Arik Air and Aero will eventually push them out of their boring existence..........

How do you suggest they get more metal with VS. not sending in extra aircraft. Also, what about the training which has been pretty difficult with the people they've had I hear.
The government haven't helped either as they've awarded routes to the other airlines and not VK.

VS.

Well how about dry-leasing (or wet-leasing) A340s from other airlines or lessors? The way it stands, VK seems overly dependent on VS and this posture is not good for VK's US DoT application to serve JFK...

I've also heard about their training difficulty (especially 737 crew) but I also heard the pay is very low, part of the reason why so many foreigners are reluctant to join VK in Lagos.

In any case the wheel needs some greasing and unless this is sorted out very quickly, i see VS pulling the plug on its investment at VK.

Forgot to add, the Nigerian government does not appear to have breached any clause of its contract with the Virgin Group with respect to exclusive routes.
The routes in question (New York, London, Dubai, Johannesburg) are all reserved for VK and have not (YET) been handed out to anyone else. Bellview and Arik were given Atlanta, Birmingham, Houston, etc.
Care to clarify your argument?

VK does not have NY which would be a very profitable route and give it the the cash it needs to get more aircraft.
Crew don't have to join in LOS, they can be based in the UK.
Although VK has problems, it is a)young and b) heavily affected by factors outside of its control eg. government, fuel strikes etc.
The government has also not helped in other respects, such as cancelling flights to go on some Hajj flight which never happened anyway as VK didn't have landing rights etc. This gave the airline very bad press and loads decreased quite severely.

VS.

Originally posted by Vintel
Well how about dry-leasing (or wet-leasing) A340s from other airlines or lessors?

That would be the easy answer but sadly there is a lack of 340's available at the moment. This is why Finnair snapped at the older 340's from VS and why the 345s of Air Canada will not even enter the market place and also why Swiss have been taking a/c from LH. Same is true of the 330.