The hitherto failure of the Federal government to engage in aeropolitics to protect its indigenous airlines and other businesses has again boomeranged.
Nigeria’s Air Peace airline is the latest of such international gang up in view of the hostile attitude often displayed to the airline by some foreign countries it has been designated to operate into, in line with the Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) existing between such countries and Nigeria.
The latest of such extreme aeropolitics is coming from the UK authorities who have consistently deny Air Peace the right to commence operations into the country even when two mega carriers from the UK side operate about 21 frequencies into Nigeria.
The refusal of UK to accept Air Peace contradicts the dual designation policy signed by the two countries which allows at least two airlines from each side to operate into each other’s territory.
The has also confirmed the extreme aeropolitics of the UK and many other countries used as a yardstick to protect their own airlines while such airlines are given red carpet treatments by the Nigerian government
Prior to now, key players at different fora had called the attention of government to the aero politics mostly played by the foreign countries including even African countries just for the protection of their own airlines operating into Nigeria.
Such calls have met deaf ears as the government through some of the previous ministers took interests in pampering the foreign airlines at the detriment of the indigenous ones.
Commenting on the denial of Air Peace by the UK authorities, the erudite and learned activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has called for the suspension of flight operations into Nigeria by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic until such a time when Nigeria’s Air Peace is allowed to also fly on the Lagos-London route in accordance with the provisions of the BASA signed by Nigeria and United Kingdom.
He made the call at the just concluded Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) Conference in Abuja.
Falana stated that BASA allows for reciprocity of flight operations on the route by designated airlines of both countries in line with the agreement signed by both countries and that it was out of place and unfair for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic to be allowed to continue flying into Nigeria without any Nigerian airline flying to London in return.
He observed that Air Peace has proven it has the capacity to operate on international routes, adding that the airline currently flies to China, Israel, India and South Africa among others using modern aircraft comparable to those of its foreign competitors.
Falana, therefore, submitted that “If Air Peace is not allowed to fly to London, then British Airways and Virgin Atlantic should be stopped from flying to Nigeria “.
Air Peace has a fleet of modern long-haul and regional aircraft that can match those of other foreign airline operating into Nigeria.
The Air Peace denial has confirmed the extreme aeropolitics of the UK and many other countries used as a yardstick to protect their own airlines while such airlines are given red carpet treatments by the Nigerian government.
Many key players prior to now had called on the Nigerian government to engage in playing aeropolitics as a way of protecting their indigenous airlines and other businesses.
Presently, BA and Virgin Atlantic operates over 21 frequencies to Nigeria without any Nigerian carrier reciprocating the same privilege.
