Stakeholders: BASA Disfavours Nigeria Because of Government Officials Preference for Foreign Airlines

Chinedu Eze

Stakeholders and experts in the aviation industry have said that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) will always favour countries with mega carriers that operate into Nigeria because top officials of government prefer patronising foreign airlines to domestic carriers on international routes.

The experts said rich Nigerians and senior government officials have imbibed the habit of flying mega carriers,such as; British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Emirates etc.

 This, they stated, explains why the Ministry of Aviation gives them more frequencies and multiple landing rights to different international airports in Nigeria.

The industry stakeholders regretted that when Nigerian carriers request for similar treatment from the countries whose airlines enjoy multiple frequencies to Nigeria, they would refuse.

THISDAY gathered that many years ago, Arik Air battled the British airport authorities when they refused to grant the airline Abuja-London route and insisted that the Nigerian airline must pay for slots.

But British Airways neither paid for slots in its operations from London to Lagos and from London to Abuja, same as UK based Virgin Atlantic Airways, which does not pay for slots in its London-Lagos operations.

Arik Air was forced to pay for slots and while the two British Airlines operated 21 flights a week, Arik Air was operating about four flights a week.

The imbroglio that erupted between United Arab Emirates (UAE) beyond Emirates Airlines’ trapped fund in Nigeria, was when UAE authorities refused to give Air Peace approval to operate about four times a week flight to Dubai or Sharjah, while the airline was operating 14 times a week to Lagos from Dubai and seven times a week to Abuja, making it 21 flights a week.

Indigenous airline operator who serviced international destinations for years told THISDAY that even when the Nigerian airline is putting the best aircraft on the route, highly placed Nigerians, including top government officials would shun the Nigerian carrier and go to the foreign airlines.

“When I told the CEO of one of the Nigerian banks that we now go to London, Johannesburg and New York, he told me that he would tell his boys to be patronizing me but when he travels, he goes for the foreign. For me, BASA operates on the principle of reciprocity; so, you are expected to treat a country the way it treats you. But these other countries will continue to short change us because our airports are no busy. We cannot introduce slots. But they have slots and their government allows them to manage the slot without interference. As a local airline, when you fly international destinations, government officials will shun your airline,” one of the stakeholders said.

Former Director General, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and currently member of Board of Air Peace, Benedict Adeyileka, told THISDAY in a telephone interview on Wednesday that if government wants Nigerian airlines to do well it should protect them in their international operations by adopting the principle of reciprocity, treating others the way they treat Nigeria.

Adeyileka recalled that when Medview Airline operated to London Gatwick airport, in its maiden flight it recorded full passenger load and “this sent panic to the British authorities.”

“Then they started that their dirty trick to delay Medview flights. They first used Immigration; then they insisted searching every luggage in the aircraft, just to delay the flights so that it would lose its on time performance record. So, government must find ways to protect Nigerian airlines. We should not fall for their tricks,” he said.

Similar incident happened about two years ago when Air Peace started flight service to Sharjah, UAE inspectors at the airport started a long search that culminated in just the replacement of a bulb in the aircraft, but the flight was delayed for hours.

During his facility tour of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, spoke about the dilemma in BASA agreements, saying that if the foreign airlines operations in Nigeria is stopped air travellers would suffer; but foreign airlines are enjoying the frequencies in Nigeria which they cannot give to Nigerian airlines.

Keyamo insisted that there must be a midway where the foreign airlines would be accommodated as well as also create opportunities to local carriers.

“Foreign airlines are hopping from one city to the other within Nigeria and picking passengers and it is affecting local airlines operation. And I said fine, I am prepared to protect the local operators. In fact, it is one of my cardinal objectives. Because we have to develop the industry, we have to protect and support our local operators. But they must give me comfort too and give the Nigerian people comfort. So that is the problem and I have told them. You said you are complaining about those BASAs, yes, I will look at them. But can you for instance get into an agreement with foreign airlines where you can sign connectivity agreement with them, pick passengers from Kano and connect them in Lagos. And then they are waiting for you and you are delaying for four hours

“Can you give me that comfort before I can look at those BASAs for you? If they sell 30 business class for instance, can you give us the 30 business class in your aircraft? Give me those comfort I will protect you but tell the Nigerian people you can perform. I am clear as to where I am going, I have to balance all of these interests. It is just one of the so many things I will tell you later. But I am looking at all of those issues before I come to a decision. If I want to fight for you and protect the local airlines, what about the Nigerians that are complaining about delays and cancellation of flights,” the minister said.

Some industry insiders however observed that abiding by the principle of reciprocity in BASA agreements cannot only benefit Nigerian airlines but also the Nigerian citizens because if domestic carriers are doing well, they will employ more Nigerians, pay more taxes and also contribute to the nation’s GDP.