The Federal Government’s reduction of the frequency of British Airways flights to Lagos, Nigeria from seven to three, has caught the attention of the British government.

The issue has started generating ripples in the aviation sector.

The Federal Government had, through the Minister of Aviation, Stella Adaeze Oduah, announced that it had cut down on the British carrier’s frequency.

Prior to the reduction which took off from Tuesday, November 8, British Airways was operating 14 frequencies into Nigeria through Abuja and Lagos airports.

The reduction may not be unconnected with the allegation by a Nigerian carrier, Arik Air, that the British Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) denied it of landing rights on its Abuja/London Heathrow route in line with Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed by the Nigerian and British governments.

The denial of the landing slot to Arik Air which has forced it to suspend its flights to London/Heathrow from Abuja may have forced government to wield the big stick against British Airways.

Reacting, the British carrier, in a statement said, ”the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has restricted British Airways flights to Lagos from next week. They have cited operational reasons for this imposition. It appears that British Airways is the only airline to be singled out by these restrictions. We are doing all we can to resolve this issue.”

In its defence, British Airways said: “The distribution of the slots at Heathrow is managed through an independent organisation, Airport Coordination Ltd. ACL manages slot allocation in a fair and transparent manner, where all airlines have the opportunity to be involved.”




http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/30744-fgs-reduction-of-ba-flights-to-nigeria-generates-ripples

Thats a good one.

Reacting, the British carrier, in a statement said, ”the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has restricted British Airways flights to Lagos from next week. They have cited operational reasons for this imposition. It appears that British Airways is the only airline to be singled out by these restrictions. We are doing all we can to resolve this issue.”

In its defence, British Airways said: “The distribution of the slots at Heathrow is managed through an independent organisation, Airport Coordination Ltd. ACL manages slot allocation in a fair and transparent manner, where all airlines have the opportunity to be involved.”

Who do they think they're fooling with Our own Abuja Airport too is managed through an Independent Organisation that pays no heed to international agreements and cannot be forced by our government to do so, especially when the other party to the agreement flouts it on flimsy excuses. Idiots. They should be banned again joor, so they can lose thousands of jobs like they did when Abacha banned them and 20,000 workers lost their jobs. So, it's Nigerian workers that should lose their jobs so the Brits can keep theirs, Abi

Princess Stella Oduah should REFUSE them audience until they return Arik to Status-Quo-Ante bellum, per the BASA agreement both governments signed.

I said it in the previous post. . . And I will say it again : screw BA!!

We dont need them.

If you live in the UK you will know that the Brits are the kings of saying so much but never really saying anything.
Anytime they mention independent bla bla bla know that that is ojoro. Nonsense. I live here and believe me there is
nothing independent as they have claimed. just watch as they will try and get the "independent" body to do the right thing
awon olojoro

If only this had happened to an airline other than Arik they would've elicited some sympathy from me. But Arik? I hate them die!!!

I mess for BA!!

I'm not a fan of Arik Air. But the Federal Government should further reduce BA's slots! Make it once a month!

Good For Them. This is just the first step. Oppressors

Basics007:

If only this had happened to an airline other than Arik they would've elicited some sympathy from me. But Arik? I hate them die!!!

This has nothing to do with Arik
It is all about BASA and hypocrisy/selfishness of Great[b]?[/b] Britain

Punch them harder Dinho, for once i see reason to clap for you, reduce it to once a week.

PHUCK BRITAIN, FORK BA.
THESE PEOPLE NEEDS TO BE CHASED OUT OF THIS COUNTRY. THEY CAME HERE WITHOUT ANY VISAS, THEY LOOTED OUR ECONOMY, RAPPPPED OUR MOTHERS AND TOOK OUR PEOPLE AS SLAVES. THEY DIDN'T STOP THERE. AFTER USING OUR BROTHERS/SISTERS AS SLAVES IN FOREIGN LANDS THEY DUMPED THEM AND STARTED CALLING THEM BLACK MONKEYS.

TILL DATE BRITAIN STILL COLONIZE OUR COUNTRY WITH THE AID OF OUR OWN GREEDY LEADERS. SHELL, BA AND ALL THEM STINKING BRITISH ESTABLISHMENTS IN NIGERIA SHOULD BE LOOTED AND SHARED TO THE POOR.

If we give this people chance they will recolonize us again,deal with them the more! Will i because my grandmother reincanated back to me i kill her with food? i'll feed her the way they feed children.It pays them right.

About time we grew a pair. . . in diplomatic rows, an eagerness to retaliate garners respect.

tit for tart, that serves the BA right

I think the fg has done the right things to those pusillanimous braty kingdom.

serve good to BA let other airline too enjoy,

but come to think of it Nigeria as a country did not have her own flight using third party airline

adora4u1:

I'm not a fan of Arik Air. But the Federal Government should further reduce BA's slots! Make it once a month!

lwkmd

it serves them right,what are the british authorities filling like,do they think nigerian govt ar fools or can be rided upon,nigerian govt totally ban them.am in supportt of them and i love the quick response from our govt.if they give us seven slots vice versa should from ours.

if u do me i do u man non go vex.1    1 na draw,we dey wait for d winner.

it serves them right,what are the british authorities filling like,do they think nigerian govt ar fools or can be rided upon,nigerian govt totally ban them.am in supportt of them and i love the quick response from our govt.if they give us seven slots vice versa should from ours.

GEJ has changed everything for good

About time too, these brits have long long since bitten more than they can chew, who do they think they are, are thumbs up to FAAN and the government

They should limit them to abuja airport only.

If only GEJ would stand by his words this time, i am willing to forgive his past actions (inactions inclusive), and give him a clean bill.

But my guess is; we would hear a different tune tomorrow

omanzo02:


Prior to the reduction which took off from Tuesday, November 8, British Airways was operating 14 frequencies into Nigeria through Abuja and Lagos airports.

In 2009 when Arik came out BA nearly went belly because Lagos to London is a premium route like London to New York! within one year BA would nearly crack knowing that Arik has Gatwick has an alternative option

Good,this is what our foreign relations should be, That of retaliation

BA should be banned totally.They treat their customers shabbily.What about their discriminatory pricing? Go to their website and check out the disparity in rates for flights between Lagos-London and Accra-London.I stopped flying BA almost 10 years ago in personal protest. Kudos to Stella Oduah.

When Harold Wilson said, through Gowon, keeping Nigeria one is a task that must be done”, he knew there was a sucker to be marooned.

DJTee:

I said it in the previous post. . . And I will say it again : screw BA!!

We dont need them.

Let us see if the so-called independent transparent slot allotment wont change by-fire-by-force, as i said in de other post, the market is here and they need us very badly especially now that festivitiess is around de corner,
otondo people, they think say we no get sense

welldone gej and his minister