… as BA raises alarm over effect on passengers

By Kenneth Ehigiator

LAGOS – Indications emerged, weekend, that the Federal Government is insistent on reviewing the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, which currently confers advantage on the latter.

Vanguard learnt, weekend, that the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, is bent on seeing a rework of the air services agreement to tally with government’s current posture of de-empahasising over-reliance on oil as a source of foreign exchange earner and build the economy around non-oil export.

This came as British Airways, weekend, raised an alarm that the current crisis with the Federal Government might create operational problems that might catch passengers in the web, especially considering the rush that characterise the end of year.

A source in Aviation Ministry told Vanguard that all the minister needed was the backing of President Goodluck Jonathan to review the BASA which, according to her, was skewed in favour of British carriers by compromised former officials of the ministry.

The BASA between Nigeria and UK, as it is currently, allocates 21 equal flight frequencies between both countries, which their airlines could maximise.

Meanwhile, British Airways, yesterday, through its  Country Commercial Manager, Nigeria, Mr. Kola Olayinka, raised alarm that the current crisis, if not urgently resolved amicably by the federal and UK government, might create problems for hundreds of its Nigerian passengers, who didn’t foresee the crisis, in view of the end of year rush.

The airline’s Country Commercial Manager, Nigeria, Mr. Kola Olayinka, said though British Airways had put in place a contigency plan to address the crisis that might arise as a result of the slash of the airline’s frequencies by three, the two governments needed to urgently resolve the differences between them, with a view to addressing issues

He said:  “We strongly believe that there would be solution by the two governments.  The UK and Nigeria have a long standing relationship, culture and heritage, so we know things may be quite strained now but this is a family issue that I believe will be resolved with time.

“The two governments are currently talking together and we can only hope that sooner rather than later, we will hear that this has been resolved. Our focus is on our numerous customers at this time to ensure that their travel plans are not affected by this needless disruption and total  misunderstanding.