Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has issued a bold remark regarding British Airways’ operations at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA). The minister warned that British Airways may be forced to shift to another Nigerian airport if the UK Civil Aviation Authority does not allow Air Peace to fly directly to London’s Heathrow International Airport.
Keyamo explained that he has previously contacted his UK counterpart, pressing them to allow Air Peace or any other Nigerian airline access to Heathrow, despite claims of limited slots. The Nigerian government is currently awaiting a response from the UK authorities. If the request is denied, British Airways may be transferred from Lagos to another airport in Nigeria.
Air Peace just began direct flights to Gatwick Airport and is attempting to secure access to Heathrow. Keyamo stated that Heathrow has greater air connection and codeshare arrangements than Gatwick, where Air Peace currently operates. He emphasized that Nigeria will no longer tolerate scenarios in which its airlines are refused entry to major international airports worldwide.
Keyamo emphasized the significance of observing the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and other countries. He cautioned that non-compliance could result in retaliatory measures from Nigeria. While acknowledging the high failure rate of Nigerian airlines, he promised that the government is dedicated to establishing a conducive atmosphere for their growth.
Keyamo also connected high domestic airfares to Nigerian carriers’ restricted aircraft capacity. He vowed that the government will help these airlines boost their capacity.
Airline operators explain the high airfare hikes.
In related news, Nigerian airline companies blamed the increase in airfares on inflation and high foreign exchange rates. Obiora Okonkwo, United Nigeria Airlines’ COO, raised worry about the impact of inflation on airline operations. He stated that, despite many airlines’ concessions, people are still avoiding air travel due to the high expenses.
This incident underscores the challenges that the Nigerian aviation sector faces, as well as the government’s efforts to ensure that its indigenous carriers are treated fairly on the world stage.
