Nigerian Government To Re-Negotiate BASA With S’Africa
The
Nigerian Government has begun moves to re-negotiate the
Bilateral Air Services Agreement with South Africa in order to
boost economic benefits accruable to the nation.
The Chief Executive Officer,
Bellview Airlines, Mr. Kayode Odukoya, disclosed this in Lagos
,South western Nigeria, at a dinner organised by the airline to
welcome 14 South African travel market investors, who were in
the country on an educational tour.
According to him, the present
BASA agreement gives only single entry each to both countries’
carriers, a situation he described as uneconomic for Nigerian
passengers and carriers.
He said, “It is no secret that
the BASA with South Africa allows for single daily flight each
both ways, and both countries are trying to renegotiate the
agreement. The government and the new minister are working very
hard on that.”
The Bellview boss also disclosed
that the airline was working on its fleet renewal programme in
anticipation of the new BASA programme.
He said it had ordered new
narrow-bodied and long-haul aircraft, which would operate daily
service to South Africa.
He said the airline operated the
widest network in the country and its goal was to connect
southern Africa to the west coast.
NP/SAINT
