The Nigerian government is considering restricting British Airways’ operations at the country’s tier-one airports if the United Kingdom fails to honour its Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Nigeria. According to Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the government has written to the UK to allow Nigerian carriers, particularly Air Peace, to operate at Heathrow Airport, a move that could potentially impact British Airways’ operations.
In a statement at the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) conference in Lagos, Keyamo emphasized that the government is working to support Nigerian airlines and has requested that the UK reciprocate by allowing them to operate at Heathrow, just as British Airways currently operates at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport. He also hinted that if the UK refuses, Nigeria may consider allowing British Airways to operate at Ilorin Airport instead.
Keyamo expressed concern over the lack of reciprocity in air service agreements between Nigeria and other countries. He noted that while Air France and Lufthansa operate in Nigeria, Nigerian carriers do not have similar rights to fly to these countries. Similarly, South African Airways flies to Nigeria but no Nigerian carrier reciprocates. This imbalance has led to a high mortality rate among Nigerian airlines, with over 150 carriers having ceased operations in the last 35 years.
The minister called on Nigerian airlines to demonstrate their capacity to reciprocate these agreements and grow their operations. “We need to support our airlines to grow but they must show capacity to reciprocate many of the agreements,” he said. “Air Peace is on its way to Heathrow away from Gatwick, and we will look into so many agreements that are not working in the interest of our airlines.”
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