"Who Does That": Keyamo Threatens to Remove British Airways from Lagos Over Heathrow Slot Dispute
- Nigeria's minister of Aviation has signalled the possible relocation of British Airways from MMIA in Lagos to another state
- This move follows British authorities' reluctance to permit Nigerian airlines to fly directly to Heathrow International Airport
- The minister emphasised the need for countries to respect and abide by the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA)
Legit.ng journalist Victor Enengedi has over a decade's experience covering Energy, MSMEs, Technology and the stock market.
Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has warned that British Airways might be relocated from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
This move comes in response to the UK Civil Aviation Authority's refusal to permit Air Peace to operate direct flights to Heathrow International Airport in London.
Source: UGC
Nigeria demands Heathrow Airport slot
According to Independent, Keyamo shared these remarks in Lagos during the annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC).
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He mentioned that he has already reached out to his UK counterpart, urging them to allow Air Peace or any other Nigerian airline to use Heathrow, regardless of the slot availability cited by UK airport authorities.
Keyamo stated that his ministry is waiting for a response from the UK authorities and warned that if their request is not granted, British Airways might be relocated from Lagos to another airport within Nigeria.
It will be recalled that Air Peace recently started flying direct flights to Gatwick Airport and is in the process of acquiring access to fly directly to Heathrow Airport.
Keyamo pointed out that air connectivity and codeshare arrangements are more efficient at Heathrow Airport compared to London Gatwick International Airport, where the airline currently operates.
The minister stated that Nigeria would no longer accept a scenario where its domestic airlines are denied access to major international airports abroad.
Keyamo said:
“We have already written to the United Kingdom to give Nigerian carriers, especially Air Peace Heathrow Airport, which is a tier one airport, just as we have British Airways, using our Lagos airport. We may as well give BA Ilorin to operate to. When we asked for Heathrow Airport, you’re telling us to go to a slot committee. Who does that? Air Peace I can tell you is on its way to Heathrow away from Gatwick."
He emphasized the importance of adhering to the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) that Nigeria has with other countries, indicating that non-compliance could result in retaliatory measures from the Nigerian government.
He lamented Nigerian airlines' high failure rate but assured them the government would continue to foster a supportive environment for their success.
Keyamo also linked the domestic market's high airfares to Nigerian airlines' decreased aircraft capacity, and he pledged that the government would help these airlines expand.
Airline operators give reasons for hike in airfares
In related news, Legit.ng reported that Nigerian airline operators have cited inflation and high foreign exchange rates as the primary reasons for the increase in airfares.
Obiora Okonkwo, the COO of United Nigeria Airlines, expressed concerns about the impact of high inflation on airline operations.
He mentioned that despite many airlines making concessions, passengers continue to avoid air travel.
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Source: Legit.ng
