Communiqué issued by the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI) at the end of its recent breakfast meeting with the theme ‘Economic Implications of Multiple Entry Points by Foreign Airlines into Nigeria.’
Speakers at the meeting included former Managing Director/CEO, Nigeria Airways, Mr. Abayomi Jones; President, Airline Operators of Nigeria, Alhaji Y. S. Abdulmunaf; the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents (NANTA), Mrs. Susan Akporiaye; President, ASRTI, Dr. Gbenga Olowo; Capt. Prex Pobeni of ASRT and Mr. Andrew Okunnuga.
At the end of the discussion, the following resolutions were reached:
1. Qualified professionals in Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) related issues should be engaged when attending meetings related to signing of BASAs between Nigeria and other countries.
2. The granting of multiple entry points to foreign airlines flying into Nigeria should be done in such a manner that it does not impede or work against the growth of domestic carriers and the economy, therefore commercial discussions and investments in our airlines should be encouraged.
3. Picking and dropping of passengers beyond the designated point of entry should be banned, while entry points to the secondary international airports should be granted to any one specific airline.
4. The current regime of multiple entry points into the country granted to airlines like Ethiopian, Qatar Airways, and others, may minimise the chances of success and survival of the proposed national carrier if it is eventually launched. All the multiple frequencies that have been granted to foreign airlines should be reviewed immediately.
5. There should be transparent procedures and national interest in activities related to granting of frequencies and entries to foreign airlines. Entry points must be specific; these may vary when dealing with sub regional and regional airlines due to multiple agreements signed and instruments deposited.
6. Public officials responsible for approvals that are detrimental to the growth of the industry should be sanctioned in or out of office.
7. It is imperative for the government to support the private airlines such that Nigeria as a country can develop very strong airlines that can compete effectively with foreign airlines while also avoiding a situation where some private investors are giving more protections or concessions.
8. Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and other interested Nigerians should consider buying the 46 per cent stake in the proposed national carrier and the government’s 5 per cent when it is made available in a transparent process through the Nigerian stock exchange to expand the performance of the market and access to the proposed national airline.