Aviation analysts and stakeholders yesterday hailed the decision by the Minister of Aviation, Mr Festus Keyamo, to demand a slot for Nigeria’s Air Peace to fly to the United Kingdom’s busiest and most primed airport, Heathrow.
They however called for the deployment of tact and diplomacy in handling the issue while advocating for the involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Keyamo had earlier at a conference in Lagos said he would write the UK authorities to allow Air Peace operate its Abuja-London flight to Heathrow as against Gatwick Airport where the airline operates to since it launched its flight from Lagos on March 31.
The minister argued that since the British carriers – British Airways and Virgin Atlantic – were given Nigeria’s primary airports – the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; the UK government should also allow Air Peace to fly to Heathrow in line with the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA).
While the Heathrow airport operates on slots sold to airlines, the Minister stated that the slot issue should not be “Used as an alibi to deny the existence of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, which hallmark is based on the principle of reciprocity.
“Therefore, it is necessary for Nigerian designated carriers to enjoy similar reciprocity that British carriers are enjoying. It is highly unfair on the side of the British authorities and a discredit to the Nigerian authorities and the Nigerian nation as a whole, for slot allocation to Nigerian carriers to be an issue at all times. We feel totally betrayed by the British authorities for not reciprocating the good gesture of the Nigerian State and its people,” Keyamo said.
A source in the Ministry of Aviation confirmed to our correspondent that the letter has been dispatched through the British High Commission in Nigeria while a response is being awaited.
Keyamo had threatened to bar BA and Virgin Atlantic to other secondary airports in Nigeria if the request of Air Peace was not met.
Though Nigerian airlines had operated to Heathrow in the past, the last carrier, Med-View, which flew to London, was also allocated Gatwick over issues of slot.
Daily Trust reports that London Heathrow (LHR), the busiest airport in the UK, operates on slot allocation to airlines and it operates one of the most expensive slots in the world with airlines paying as much as $50m to buy a slot.
The most sought-after morning slot costs as much as $75m.
But stakeholders say the slot system should have put into consideration the existing BASA with Nigeria which recognises the doctrine of reciprocity.
General Secretary of Aviation Roundtable (ART), Mr Olumide Ohunayo described the minister’s move as courageous. However, he called for caution and warned him to be wary of “saboteurs” within the industry who might want to frustrate his efforts.
“Again, there should be some tact in going about this process in the sense that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) did not specifically mention an airport. It only mentioned cities and not airports that were not included. If that was included then it becomes mandatory…
“We have saboteurs within Nigeria. It happened before when BA was taken to court over BASA issues and how some Nigerians rose up in defence of BA. This is a fight you have to be technical about. I think they should do more of body language in squeezing those arrival time, destination terminals for British carriers. When you begin to squeeze little by little the message would be clear.
“While we are fighting for this, we must also prepare ourselves so that we would not falter with the timing. The integrity of the departure and arrival must be sacrosanct not because of the airport but also because of the service providers who are all timed and have other services to provide for other airlines.”
President of Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA), Dr. Alex Nwuba also called for diplomacy in handling issues and said the Foreign Affairs Minister must be involved.
“This thing is better handled quietly. Diplomacy is always the best way. The Foreign Affairs should say, ‘Guy, we have an agreement, how do we sort this issue.’”
He said Heathrow is not totally out of the hand of the UK but was given out to manage on behalf of the government.
“We entered an agreement that we will give you our grade one airport and you would give us your grade one airport. You can’t come back and tell us that the person that is running it does not have space…,” he said.
