Aviation minister, Stella Oduah-Ogiewmonyi
The Federal Government yesterday gave all foreign airlines operating
in the country a 30-day ultimatum within which to dismantle the fare
regime that sees Nigerian passengers paying higher fares than other
passengers in West Africa.
Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, who issued the ultimatum in
Abuja last night, said the 30-day ultimatum would start today.
This came on a day the Ministry of Aviation also sought the
cooperation of the National Assembly towards the enactment of a
Passengers’ Bill of Rights.
It could be recalled that in the wake of the impasse between British
Airways and Arik Air regarding the denial of landing slots of the latter
at London Heathrow airport, the ministry had, in addition facilitating
the landing rights of Arik Air in Heathrow, waded into the huge fare
disparity in the sub-region and demanded fare parity from British
Airways, BA, Virgin Atlantic Airways, VA, and other international
airlines operating in the country.
BA and VA had particularly asked for more time to conduct its own
study on the alleged fare disparity, promising to report back to the
Ministry last December.
But worried by the obvious delay tactics on the part of the two
British carriers, Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah,
weekend said any international airline operating in Nigeria which failed
to dismantle the fare imbalance and other sharp practices within the
next 30 days would be banned from operating in Nigeria.
She said: “We are seriously concerned and worried by the
reluctance to restore parity within the region by the foreign airlines.
They have been using all kinds of delay tactics; this is unacceptable
and will no longer be tolerated. Nigerian passengers do not deserve
this kind of exploitation and we are willing and ready to stand up to
their rights.”
Oduah said Nigeria remained an important and lucrative route for the
international airlines, warning that anyone not ready to treat Nigerians
with equity and dignity would be barred from operating in the country.
”In the interim, we encourage Nigerian travellers to avail
themselves of other competitive alternatives while we try try
to address and resolve this issue once and for all,” she said.
A source had told Vanguard that government’s action was informed by
the delayed tactics deployed by the British government on the need to
resolve the issue of unequal fare regime of British carriers in their
Nigerian operations, compared to what holds in other countries on the
West Coast.
Government had always banked on the fact that once the two British
carriers were made to toe the line, other international airlines would
follow their footstep on the issue, especially considering the
historical links between Nigeria and Britain.
Vanguard gathered at the weekend that the latest withdrawal of slots
from Arik Air on its Abuja-London Heathrow operations, which led to the
airline’s suspension of flight on the route yesterday, further
infuriated the government.
The British government had in the last quarter of 2011 asked the
federal government to give it till December 31, 2011, to conduct a study
on the fare regime of both British carriers on Lagos-London and
Abuja-London routes, in relation to that of other countries in the
sub-region, but failed to meet up with that deadline and called for an
extension of time which, according to sources, was to enable it buy time
while the two carriers continued operations unhindered.
The British government had begged for a negotiation in the heat of
the row caused by the shabby treatment of Arik Air at Heathrow, when
government threatened to shut down British Airways operations on
Lagos-London route.
A source told Vanguard weekend that government was no longer disposed
to the delayed tactics being employed by the British government,
especially in the light of the resurgence of Arik Air’s problem at
Heathrow earlier in the month.
Announcing a re-suspension of its Abuja-London flight penultimate
week, Arik Air had said: “From the inception of the route in November
2009, Arik Air has been in a slot-lease agreement with a UK carrier,
leasing arrival/ departure slots on the Abuja/ London route at Heathrow.
“At the end of the summer schedule (October 2011), the UK carrier
that Arik Air was in the slot-lease agreement with for this route
advised the airline of its intention to sell the company and began to
wind down its contractual arrangements with Arik Air. Without these
commercially arranged slots, Arik Air was forced to suspend operations
at the start of the winter schedule (2011).
“Immediate discussions were held by the respective governments to
resolve the long-existing and underlying anomaly in the BASA. As an
abridgement, the UK authorities facilitated the temporary continuation
of the commercial lease of these slots in support of Arik Air’s Abuja/
London, Heathrow operation.
“This interim solution was only available up until 25th March
(2012). Unfortunately,despite the best efforts of both governments,
there has been no solution found. The situation remains as it was at the
end of October 2011 with Arik Air having no landing/arrival slots after
March 2012 thus forcing it to suspend the route.
Although Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, could not be
reached weekend to know what action government was taking in the next
two weeks, sources at the Ministry said the operations of both British
carriers might be shut in Lagos in the interim, in view of Arik Air’s
problems at Heathrow, and shut completely should the British government
fail to respond to Nigeria’s quest for a dismantling of the current fare
regime which is unfavourable to Nigerians.
The Aviation Minister’s aide, Mr. Joe Obi, had told Vanguard three
weeks ago that though the British negotiating team on British Airways
and Virgin Atlantic Airways fare structures appealed for extension of
time, on the expiration of the December 31, 2011, deadline, which was
acceded to, the Nigerian government would not wait indefinitely because
of the urge with which Nigerians want the issue settled.
He also said the matter bothered on public interest which government was in a hurry to resolve in the
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Aviation is putting finishes touches on a
proposed Passengers’ Bill of Rights which it hopes to present before the
two chambers of the National Assembly soon.
The ministry, which is very optimistic that the National Assembly
will lend its usual cooperation towards the swift passage of the bill,
believes air passengers will have a fairer deal once the bill is passed
into law.
One of the salient provisions in the proposed bill stipulates that a
passenger has a right to compensation if his or her flight is
delayed for more than one hour, out-rightly cancelled or where a
passenger is denied boarding without any reasonable cause.
Source: Vanguardnews
No comments:
Post a Comment