[size=14pt]Jonathan endorses action against BA, Virgin Atlantic, others[/size]
On March 28, 2012 · In News
12:23 am

By Rotimi Ajayi
ABUJA — President Goodluck Jonathan has endorsed plan by the Ministry of Aviation to compel the British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and other international airlines operating in the country to correct the disparity in the fare charged Nigerians against that charged other West African passengers.

A top source in the ministry told Vanguard that before the announcement of the 30-day ultimatum issued the two British carriers and other international airlines by the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, President Jonathan and some key members of the National Assembly were fully briefed on the development.

It was learnt that the decision to issue the ultimatum had been delayed this far on the advice of the President that the affected carriers be given time to respond and adjust the fares accordingly.

The source said the Federal Government had not been communicated by the British Government on the reported plan to retaliate any action that would be taken by Nigerian government against the carriers should the latter go ahead with sanctioning the carriers at the expiration of the ultimatum.

He said: “We are not aware of the plan by the British Government to carry out any retaliation. We are not at war with Britain. We are fully engaged in diplomacy where some parameters of justice and equity are being demanded.

“What we are saying is that Nigerians should not be exploited by these carriers. As government, we have done our own studies on the fare regime being charged and we found out that it is clearly unfair, it is unacceptable and unjustifiable for Nigerians to be charged higher than those from other West African countries.

“This process has been on the table since last year and these two airlines have been given ample time and opportunities to respond and they chose not to do that and we cannot continue to look at the situation. We must deal with this situation once and for all.”

Air of arrogance

The source said so far, the two airlines had carried on with some air of arrogance each time the Nigerian government tried to get them to discuss the issue, adding: “There are some arrogance about it. Each time you talk to them, they say Nigerians are ready to pay these fare disparity and that why should we be complaining as government?

“But the question is that: why would they have that huge disparity between the fares charged in the economy class which is about the same as those charged other West African passengers and the fares charged in the business and first class?

“It is the same plane that carries both the economy and these other classes. If you charge the same for Nigerians travelling in economy class as those of his or her counterparts in other West African countries, why charging a huge disparity for the business and first class different from those charged other West Africans in the same class as well?

“I must tell you that they have no option than to come to the table. The repercussions are so clear and the government is quite ready. We are not just talking as Aviation ministry, we are talking the minds of government and Nigerian people. It would be of greater economic benefit for Britain to have more cordial economic atmosphere and relationship with Nigeria. So, the doors are open for British Airways, Virgin and the British government to come to the table on this matter.”

The source disclosed that a committee had been set up to carry out all necessary negotiations on this matter and that so far, there were indications that they were ready to come to the table.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/jonathan-endorses-action-against-ba-virgin-atlantic-others/

@Beaf

I need the type of job you do, how much do you think I can earn monthly? I can work 16hrs a day, since all I need to do is post propaganda, and half-truths.

I'm serious, beaf - please PM me.

Cheers, mate.

shymmex: @Beaf

I need the type of job you do, how much do you think I can earn monthly? I can work 16hrs a day, since all I need to do is post propaganda, and half-truths.

I'm serious, beaf - please PM me.

Cheers, mate.

Dude, you need brains to be me. And I am talking about 10 tonne brains. Dig?

Beaf:

Dude, you need brains to be me. And I am talking about 10 tonne brains. Dig?

Lmao! Just because I troll on here don't mean that's me. FYI, I may be more academically qualified than you. I want to talk to privately, can you send me a PM?

shymmex:

Lmao! Just because I troll on here don't mean that's me. FYI, I may be more academically qualified than you. I want to talk to privately, can you send me a PM?

No hard feelings, but I will not communicate outside NL.

Beaf:

No hard feelings, but I will not communicate outside NL.

Ok. You can hit me up if you change your mind, though.

Who says Jonathan is not growing balls now?

what ball is that, it only show, they lack understand of the issues. here is it, flight to nigeria is cheaper than any part of west africa. all the airlines , nigerian pay less than other west african. population is the reason why nigerian pay less. .

nigerian pay less than people from togo, ghana, senegal etc they can ask for waiver for airport taxes

What are the reasons for the airlines to charge nigerians highly? Is it because they are high risk passengers? Most likely to be stow-aways that cost the airlines alot in terms of fines when they are caught out at the point of entry? And what does gej with his toothless barking have in place as regards flights in case oyinbos decide to pull out? There is no smoke without fire.

shymmex: @Beaf

I need the type of job you do, how much do you think I can earn monthly? I can work 16hrs a day, since all I need to do is post propaganda, and half-truths.

I'm serious, beaf - please PM me.

Cheers, mate.

Kai! Awon eleyi won BADT gan!!!

antartica: What are the reasons for the airlines to charge nigerians highly? Is it because they are high risk passengers? Most likely to be stow-aways that cost the airlines alot in terms of fines when they are caught out at the point of entry? And what does gej with his toothless barking have in place as regards flights in case oyinbos decide to pull out? There is no smoke without fire.

If they do pull out it will be their loss. I am there other waiting to replace them; the whole aviation industry knows the Nigeria - UK route is one of the most lucrative in the world.

The only inconvenience for Nigerians is that there will be less direct flights to and from the UK.

which one concern me

If they do pull out it will be their loss. There other waiting to replace them; the whole aviation industry knows that the Nigeria - UK route is one of the most lucrative in the world.

The only inconvenience for Nigerians is that there will be less direct flights to and from the UK.

It seems GEJ and his team only grow balls when government people are affected directly. A case in point was the issue with the south African airport authority over the repatriation of Nigerians, one of which was a senator. Now, just because the bulk of Nigerians that are flying the first class are governors, senators, ministers and other government functionaries, they're taking things to a whole new level. Would they even had bothered if it were the average Nigerians that were affected?

banning an airline because of expensive business and first class fares is just plain stupid. why dont you impose taxes on them and make them pay for landing slots just as Arik needs to pay at heathrow....how does banning slove any issue it is d common man that will suffer, people that fly economy. i'm sick and tired of GEJ and his knee jerk reactions to everytin....It just doesnt make economic sense..BA and Virgin employ Nigerians,sleep in nigerian hotels and pay bills here maintain offices this is just plain stupid.

gud move GEJ is high time we stand as one in Nigeria.

gegee: which one concern me

Thank you o jare!!! wetin concern Agbero with Overload

Person neva chop bele ful im dey talk about Air flight to UK!!

If dem like let them stop all flights from flying in and out of naija.....they should just not touch the cost of Amala and Ewedu soup plus shaki wey poor man dey chop!

The said we have morning to pay any amouth ok oil money dey talk

This is simple economics 101 demand and supply!!! There are less thieves/looters in government of other West African countries so very few are flying 1st class/business class.

@Beaf

Unlike most nairalanders, I don't usually disagree with you, but this point I think the Aviation minister is misguiding her Oga.

Apparently the economy fares between Ghana and UK, and Nigeria and UK are similar, the problem is the business and first class fares. Really should the government be worrying about the 'luxury end ' of the travel business? It's bit like complaining that Mercedes Benz or BMW's are too expensive.

BA and Virgin are doing what businesses do; they use the business class and first class to subsidize the 'populo side'

Ghana probably has cheaper business and first class, because the Ghanaians have enough sense or not enough money to be rushing for seats that cost up ten (10) times the economy side on the same plane.

A long haul flight probably has 350 seats of which maybe 60 are business/ first class, in Nigeria those most expensive seats are quickly snapped up (by civil servants and oil executives no doubt) meanwhile the rest of us dey back of plane.

Now the Nigerian government wants to go war over the cost of the most expensive seats, please they shouldn't jeopardize the ease of getting flights for poor traders like us that have to manage 'talakwa class' because they feel first class should cost $5000 instead of $6000.

When last did Stella Oduah and her staff travel abroad using Arik?

There is time for everything.This is action time.

feelamong:

Thank you o jare!!! wetin concern Agbero with Overload

Person neva chop bele ful im dey talk about Air flight to UK!!

If dem like let them stop all flights from flying in and out of naija.....they should just not touch the cost of Amala and Ewedu soup plus shaki wey poor man dey chop!

laff wan tear my boxer o

niger 4 u

musiwa,,.:
what ball is that, it only show, they lack understand of the issues. here is it, flight to nigeria is cheaper than any part of west africa. all the airlines , nigerian pay less than other west african. population is the reason why nigerian pay less. .

nigerian pay less than people from togo, ghana, senegal etc they can ask for waiver for airport taxes

how come you didn't back up your claim with your usual satelite images? Maybe it's due to the fact that you are so ignorant

At least we still have a socialist government, these western capitalist are only interested in maximizing profit without giving back to the community.

dayorx: banning an airline because of expensive business and first class fares is just plain stupid. why dont you impose taxes on them and make them pay for landing slots just as Arik needs to pay at heathrow....how does banning slove any issue it is d common man that will suffer, people that fly economy. i'm sick and tired of GEJ and his knee jerk reactions to everytin....It just doesnt make economic sense..BA and Virgin employ Nigerians,sleep in nigerian hotels and pay bills here maintain offices this is just plain stupid.

are you this myopic?

good but with extreme caution, so not to backfire.

Supported

afam4eva: It seems GEJ and his team only grow balls when government people are affected directly. A case in point was the issue with the south African airport authority over the repatriation of Nigerians, one of which was a senator. Now, just because the bulk of Nigerians that are flying the first class are governors, senators, ministers and other government functionaries, they're taking things to a whole new level. Would they even had bothered if it were the average Nigerians that were affected?

......... Facts....

This is simple economics 101 demand and supply![img]http://www.demama.info/hjk[/img]

Its not the best route to handle this. there are much more subtle methods. The same approach BA uses to stifle competition.

The aviation minister should just find out how much BA and others pay for slots in Nigeria, increase it if need be.
tell all government details: Governors, senators, ministers and the rest to patronize Nigerian. Simply go Arik while enforcing arik to improve their standards.
I know a state in Nigeria where all state executive members fly a particular multinational carrier. That alone helps the capital flight the economy is experiencing, multinational carriers always repatriate large chunk they earn out of this country still with their low wage bill.