Grounded by COVID, Nigerian diners get a taste of air travel

By Abraham Achirga
ABUJA, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Missing the thrill of air travel
during the coronavirus lockdown? A Nigerian restaurant is now
offering its customers the illusion of flight without them ever
having to leave the ground.
The diners at Urban Air in the Nigerian capital Abuja sit on
plush white seats and peruse a flight-themed cocktail menu
beside windows illustrated with blue skies and puffy white
clouds.
Some customers take selfies as staff leave the 'cockpit' to
serve them.
"The environment is really amazing considering this corona
stuff," said IT worker Fatima Garba during her second visit.
"It's been a while since we've all got to sit inside of an
airplane and this just reminds us of that."
Nigeria has suspended all international commercial flights
since late March. It also curtailed domestic flights for several
months, though they have since resumed.
Restaurant owner Ugo Young said even his partner, who is
also head chef, had questioned whether a flight-themed
restaurant would work. Undaunted, Young spent more than 10
million naira ($26,281) converting the space to look just like
an airplane.
Since opening on August 15, it has served roughly 100
adventure-hungry Nigerians each day.
Young said the eatery provides a safe, affordable experience
for nostalgic fliers.
"This COVID period, where people haven't gotten to travel...
they could come here and feel as though they are in the air,"
Young said.
For some, the restaurant, whose meals start at 2,000 naira,
could be the closest they get to the skies for some time. While
international flights are set to resume on Sept. 5, returning to
Nigeria will entail pricey coronavirus tests, in addition to the
airfare.
Divine Akufu, a 20-year-old student, said her selfies at
Urban Air made her look like a first-class adventurer.
"It looks like a private jet here," she said.
($1 = 380.5000 naira)