Nigerian Aviation experts across the country converged at the Lagos airport recently to examine aeropolitics, aiming to chart ways to protect domestic airlines from aviation power tussles and to ensure the rework of Bilateral Air Service Agreements that are against local operators’ growth.
At the summit organised by SAPTCO, experts agreed that Nigeria has significant air traffic volume along the busiest Nigeria-UK routes, despite having low capacity to operate reciprocal flights to London. The professionals urged the Federal Government to be intentional in supporting local airlines in achieving capacity through all possible means, particularly via policies.
The Chief Operating Officer of SAPTCO, Sam Adurogboye, soeaking at the event, appreciated the guests while emphasising that the summit will continually resolve industry-based issues as subsequent editions take place.
The key speaker at the event, former Director-General of NCAA, Harold Demuren, urged the Federal Government to renegotiate some one-sided Bilateral Air Service Agreements to ensure balance.
The aeronautic engineer, speaking on the theme: “International Aeropolitics: The Survival of Nigeria Carriers on the London Routes,” emphasised that some BASA agreements favoured international airlines to the detriment of Nigerian operators.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, the only domestic airline flying the Nigeria-UK route, appreciated the Nigerian government for its support in strengthening the airline on international routes.
Onyema, represented by Nowel Ngala, Chief Commercial Officer of Air Peace Limited, said passenger traffic on the route has risen to over 450,000.
He said, “The UK-Nigeria route is the first and highest traffic corridor among all markets in Nigeria. It has an annual traffic of over 450,000 travelers, making it the biggest market share in all the markets serving Nigeria. International foreign carriers, such as British Airways, have been operating on this route for over 90 years, since their creation.”
Appreciating the government, Ngala said, “We want to seize this opportunity to sincerely thank the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Minister of Aviation, and the Nigerian government for their relentless support and continuous push to ensure the full presence of a Nigerian carrier on this route, despite all challenges.”
