Government's ultimatum to British Airways receives Senate’s support

Government's ultimatum to British Airways receives Senate’s support
Obiora Ani, Abuja

The Senate Committee on Aviation says it supports the Nov. 9 deadline given by the Ministry of Aviation to British Airways to restore the full slots-to-land given to Arik Air at Heathrow Airport, London.

The ultimatum was informed by complaints from Arik Air that British Airways had violated the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between both countries by reducing its landing slots at Heathrow.

The committee, which made public its position at the end of a public hearing on Wednesday in Abuja, said British Airways was acting contrary to the agreement between Nigeria and the UK.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation, Mrs Ann Ene-Ita, told newsmen after the hearing that Arik Air was denied landing slots in Heathrow Airport.
She said, “on Oct. 28, the airline stopped flying Abuja-Heathrow and no investigation has indicted Arik as it still flies Lagos-Heathrow’’ .

Quid pro quo

According to reports, the government cut down on British Airways’ frequency via a letter signed by the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi.

Commenting on the development, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation said what had happened was a case of “you do me good, I do you good; you are fair to me, I’m fair to you”

New schedule

The new schedule is that BA which arrives at 6.00pm daily from London will now touchdown in Lagos at 6.00am and remain on ground till 10pm, while the third frequency of the airline for the week departs Lagos at 23.20pm local time.

Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has issued a new memo to all airlines operating in and out of the country.

The circular signed by Airport Manager, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Mr. Edward Olarerin stated: “The aviation slot committee has reviewed the 2011 winter schedule for the airlines.”

According to the circular, the following decisions have been made to ease flight operations in and out of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, south west Nigeria : “Reduction in some airlines, change in arrival and departure of some flights, change of parking bay, change of check-in counters”.

The airline chief advised the airlines to adhere strictly to the new slot allocation.

BASA agreement

The BASA agreement signed years ago regulates commercial air transportation between both countries.

Under that agreement, Britain and Nigeria agreed that each country would give each other 21 weekly frequencies for their commercial airlines.

Additional reports/Adekusibe/Ekata