Cablegate: World Airways Operating Authority

VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHOS #0375 1441413
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241413Z MAY 07
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8967
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 8780
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA PRIORITY 1303
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0177
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0451
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR PRIORITY 0862
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 1265
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS LAGOS 000375

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE PASS FAA TO AHARRIS,
TRANSPORTATION TO FAA; STATE PLEASE PASS TO OPIC; DAKAR
PLEASE PASS TO FAA REP MOIRA KEANE; ROME PLEASE PASS TO TSA
REP JOHN HALINSKI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR EINV PREL NI
SUBJECT: WORLD AIRWAYS OPERATING AUTHORITY

REF: SECSTATE 65659

1. On 21 May, Econoff met with Director General, Nigerian
Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Harold Demuren and Director
of Air Transport Regulation Alfred Famodimu regarding the
GON's recent refusal to grant operating authority to World
Airways, Inc. (World). Econoff expressed the concerns noted
in reftel and received the following responses to the
questions enumerated:

-- Does your March 8, 2007 denial of authority to World only
cover the proposed wet-lease of an MD-11 freighter to DHL and
the operation of that aircraft on a JFK-Brussels-Lagos route?
Response: No. The denial encompasses any future World
activity in Nigeria. This is a result of the 2003/2004
incident in which Nigerian passengers were stranded.

-- If your April 24, 2004 and March 8, 2007 denials are
broader in time, do they have a termination date or are they
indefinite? Response: They are indefinite. However, the GON
would be willing to review and reconsider this decision
pursuant to receiving a formal letter of request from the
U.S. Government. The letter should be addressed to the
Minister of Aviation and copy the NCAA.

-- If your denials are broader in scope, do they cover all
future requests for operating authority from World?
Response: Yes.

-- Was there a court procedure, administrative hearing, or
notice of any kind regarding World in Nigeria between the
date of the Ritetime incident and the March 8, 2007 denial of
their proposed service? Response: Yes, an administrative
review was held. With Ministerial approval, the NCAA
suspended indefinitely World's rights to operate in Nigeria.
This suspension included cargo, passenger, and charter
flights. The suspension was conveyed to the President of
World via a letter dated April 26, 2004.

-- Did you apply other criteria outside of the Ritetime
incident in consideration of World's current authorization
request? Response: No.

-- Does Mr. Obafemi of Ritetime currently conduct business
in Nigeria? If so, does he hold any authorization or license
from the GON to do so? Response: Mr. Obafemi does not hold
any license from the GON to operate in the aviation sector.
The NCAA does not have any information as to whether Mr.
Obafemi conducts other business in Nigeria.

-- Could you consider a reapplication from World for the
currently proposed service? If so, under what conditions?
Response: As previously stated, the GON would reconsider its
March 8, 2007 decision and would consider future applications
from World following a formal written request from the U.S.
Government addressed to the Minister of Aviation. Director
General Demuren emphasized World would be expected to comply
with all Nigerian regulations for operation.

BROWNE

© Scoop Media