The Federal Government yesterday ordered the management of British Airways in Nigeria to, within one week, revert to its approved scheduled flights into Lagos or have its operations grounded.
The new Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba gave the order in a press statement released in Abuja yesterday.
Omotoba who assumed office two days ago, said British Airways had been operating against industry regulations “and in a manner, which is inimical to Nigeria’s airspace safety and security.”
Omotoba’s order is a fall out from reports that British Airways is operating unscheduled flights “which are against airline regulations and security of the airspace.”
The statement said further that the minister gave the airline a one week ultimatum to ensure that all its flights into Lagos arrive latest, 6 p.m. (1800 hours) local time.
“The Honorable Minister has therefore directed that one week from today, precisely Fridays 26th of December 2008, all British Airways flights into Lagos must arrive latest at 6 p.m. (1800 Hours) local time.
“Omotoba instructed British Airways’ present schedule, which brings passengers into Lagos at unholy hours must stop henceforth.
“All international flights should arrive Nigeria latest at 6.00 p.m. for the comfort and safety of air travellers,” it said.
British Airways has in the last two months rescheduled its departure time for outbound flight to Lagos from Heathrow Terminal 5 to 1. 55 p.m.
Since the development, the airline has been arriving Lagos at between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. at night. As a result, most passengers don’t get to leave the airport till between 10 and 11 p.m., after waiting to pick up their luggage.
Industry sources explained the decision by the airline to reschedule their flights arose from a cost and union issue which has remained unresolved for sometime.
Prior to the rescheduling, when the airline arrived at approximately the same time as other international airlines, its crew members who stay at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos found it impossible to secure rooms once they arrived the hotel.
This stemmed from the fact that the British Airways crew that had arrived the night prior, do not have to check out until about 10 p.m. in the evening in preparation for their departure time from Lagos.
As such, the new crew that flew into Lagos was always made to wait for several hours in the lobby until their rooms were made available.
Meanwhile, the management of Sheraton Hotel which was aware of the problem, made it clear that more rooms could only be made available to arriving crew members if British Airways was willing to book additional rooms for them to check into on arrival.
But British Airways balked at the idea of booking another set of rooms at a time most airlines worldwide are adopting cost cutting measures to stem their declining fortunes.
However, British Airways’ decision to get around the problem by rescheduling its flights to arrive late in evening has now placed the lives of its Nigerian passengers in danger, making them more susceptible to attacks by armed robbers.
In a related development, Omotoba in his first official duty will today re-open Runway 18L of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The reopening of Runway 18L, designated for local flight operations, will bring smiles to the faces of domestic flight operators in the aviation industry.
The runway was closed for rehabilitation for over two years, forcing domestic operators to take-off and land at Runway 18R designated for international operations.
Domestic carriers spend millions of naira daily, because about 30 litres of aviation fuel is burnt on the two kilometer taxiway to the international runway.
The delays caused by the movement to runway 18R and the attendant costs will now become a thing of the past.
A senior official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who confirmed the reopening said that a test-run was carried out yesterday with Arik Air aircraft and the runway was certified okay by engineers for flight operations.
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