[size=15pt]At Last, Arik Gets 7 Slots to Heathrow[/size]

16 Nov 2011

By Chinedu Eze





Arik Air has emerged a major beneficiary from the settlement of the face-off between Nigeria and the United Kingdom over the implementation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).


The airline, which was at the centre of the storm, Tuesday had its entries into Heathrow Airport from Abuja increased from five to seven per week.

This was part of the outcome of the meetings between the officials of the Federal Government and their British Government counterparts over the suspension of Arik Air’s flights from Abuja to London and the reduction of slots of the British Airways (BA) to Lagos Airport as a retaliation by the Nigerian government.

The BA, as part of the rapproachement, would continue with the seven slots it had always enjoyed before the diplomatic row over the BASA between both countries about two weeks ago.

According to a statement isued by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, Arik Air now has seven from Abuja to London at an agreed commercial fee, believed to be cheaper than the rate the airline previously bought BMI's unutilised slots.

“With respect to slot at Heathrow Airport, seven slots per week from Abuja have been secured for Arik Air at prevailing commercial rates,” the statement said.

The Nigerian airline had been denied five slots a week from its Abuja, London operations by the Airline Coordination Limited (ACL), forcing it to suspend its flights from the nation’s capital.

Arik Air thus gained additional two slots to the five it was operating before the face-off.
With these concessions, the Federal Government has restored the seven slots a week to BA on its London, Lagos operations.

The British mega carrier would have started operating three times a week to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, today if its seven frequencies had not been restored.

Obi also said in the statement that in consideration to the high fares charged by BA and the associated regional imbalance, the airline made an offer of a 20-per-cent reduction in the lowest Business Class fare between Nigeria and the UK.

“The Nigerian side considered this as insufficient. The Nigerian government is still very concerned about the regional price disparity. We still strongly believe that this regional imbalance should be dismantled. In other words, BA should offer the same or similar fares from Nigeria to the UK as is the case in any other Equidistant destination within West Africa,” he said.

Obi also said the British authorities requested to be given an opportunity to carry out an independent study of the regional pricing disparity in the UK/Nigerian aviation market.

“We expect the conclusion of this study by the end of the year to facilitate a conclusion on the subject,” he added.
The special assistant to the aviation minister therefore called on the Nigerian flying public to make wise choices about which airlines they fly as regards the pricing of their tickets.

“Finally, the Federal Ministry of Aviation assures Nigerians that their interests with regard to safety, security, comfort, service and affordability will remain our priority,” Obi said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said that it will start the sale and review of slots at the MMIA, Lagos.

The agency said in a statement that: “As you are aware, FAAN is renovating and upgrading their airports. These efforts will require a review of current slot allocations and additional funding. Towards this end, FAAN is considering applying commercial slot rates for slots into Murtala Mohammed International Airport in the spirit of Bilateral Air Services Agreement.”

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