It’s with great relief to hear and see that the government is finally listening and understanding the aspirations of the industry, but there is a need to be cautious with the implementation process.
The industry genuinely yearns for a general review of some Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) signed with some countries which has been detrimental to the growth of our carriers and other facets of the industry while deceptively enriching our acrimonious and deeply secretive BASA account.
It’s unfair not to give our carriers landing slots in Heathrow or required to bid for it at exorbitant prices, if that is the situation then the government should factor the cost and other entry points in the next round of negotiation.
In reviewing the agreement the government should quite naturally involve all parties, by building a team comprising of requisite government agencies, departments, designated airlines and probably a representative of the other Nigerian Airlines.
Our carriers should not only be willing but must demonstrate their ability to reciprocate our own side of the agreements by either operating directly or through a code share. Arik need to look inwards and address the perennial delayed departure and other operational lapses which ultimately affects arrival time, disrupt operational activities in slot constrained airports.
Our flag carriers should know that the operational laxity being overlooked by MMIA management team will not be replicated by an airport owned and managed by private hands, whose only objective is to maximize profit while proving excellent service.
We need to renegotiate all unfavorable agreements, using diplomatic and legal timelines that will not embarrass the country, the corporate arrogance of British Airways as exemplified in the first press release while also using Nigerians who are highly placed BA frequent milers to push their selfish position in private and public to the detriment of the country, is irritating and condemnable.
The government should go further and investigate discriminatory fares on the London route and other routes, using fines as appropriate sanctions. We should manage this crisis well, so fares will not rise on the LOS- LHR route and also avoid a situation where the other European and the rising Middle Eastern airlines operating into the country will capitalize on the crisis by smiling to bank to the detriment of Nigerian people and carriers.
The alarm bell is ringing, we should start looking at how to heal our limping carriers by regulation and finance, so they can attract foreign investors, partners or carriers rather than wait for money launderers to deceive us again.
Are we still surprised that our carriers are not operating to the Middle East, other European cities and even abandoned the high yield ABV - LHR route. Well, it is glaring that our economy is financed by public funds and government travel constitutes a large chunk of upper end cabin. Its time to re-regulate our carriers economically which should be backed by a Fly-Nigeria- Act
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