AMERICAN CARRIERS INVADING NIGERIAN SKIES

We should realise that we voluntarily and hastily signed the open skies when we did not have a carrier or carriers that would have utilise the agreement, also a five year grace given to Nigerian airlines to operate unhindered without reciprocatory flights from the Americans was also wasted, coupled with the shackles that was recently lifted called Cat 1, which could have been a condition for negotiating the open skies just like some other countries did.

The Americans are here due to the depressed domestic yield, so they are looking for succor on the international route and African routes in particular due to the high yield. The recent financial statement of South African Airline credited the African routes for contributing significantly to the revenue, which is needed tonic for any airline of repute.

Another reason for the recent interest in Nigeria and other West African countries is the market assault from the non aligned gulf carriers who are raiding their market using newer and bigger aircrafts and picking a lot of market from Nigeria and other African countries through Dubai and Doha to the US using the sixth freedom.

The gulf carriers have sliced the Europeans and a equally taken a chunk of the potential American market, so the Americans are really fighting back with the necessary government and public support, normally backed by legislation which is lacking down here. The Ethiopians are the next raiders watch what they will be doing with ASKY and Air Nigeria in the west coast very soon.

Therefore we need to strengthen our airlines financially or by regulations, keep the necessary public travel with them which will in turn attract investors and partners,the benefits far out weights the BASA funds that is presently exciting the egg heads in the ministry and agencies.

finally Arik is handicapped competing with these giant American carriers due to their non membership of IATA which will make commercial negotiations pretty difficult