FG demands UK provide first-class airport for Nigerian airlines

Minister of Aviation and Space Development, Festus Keyamo said the Federal Government has written to the United Kingdom to allow Nigerian airlines, especially Air Peace, to fly into Heathrow Airport.

Speaking at the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) seminar in Lagos on Friday, Keyamo said Nigeria would no longer tolerate a situation where domestic airlines are not allowed to operate tier-one airports abroad, which is in line with the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).

He said if Air Peace is not allowed into Heathrow, Nigeria may take over British Airways and other less busy airports.

He stated that in the absence of a national airline, the government would support local airlines and give them what they need to survive and succeed.

“We need to have national carriers that make us very proud and that serve our mutual rights and the BASA that we have, but they need to make sure that they raise global standards and make us proud,” the minister said.

“We are working with Nigerian airlines to ensure that they are supported. We have already written to the United Kingdom to give Nigerian airlines, especially Air Peace Heathrow Airport, a tier one airport, just like we have British Airways Lagos, our tier one airport. We can as well give BA Ilorin to fly to.”

“When we asked for Heathrow Airport, you said we had to go to a final committee. Who does that? Air Peace, I can tell you, is on its way to Heathrow, away from Gatwick.”

He assured that the government would investigate the many agreements that are not in the interest of domestic airlines.

He stressed that domestic airlines need support and must demonstrate their ability to deliver on many of the agreements.

“Air France flies to Nigeria and no Nigerian airline flies to Paris. Lufthansa, Delta and a whole bunch of others, but no Nigerian airline flies to Frankfurt or the US.

“South African Airlines flies to Nigeria and no Nigerian airline does the same. Nigerian airlines have limitations which is why there is a high mortality rate among airlines in Nigeria. Over 150 Nigerian airlines have gone extinct in the last 35 years which is very disheartening.”