The spat between Nigeria and Britain over the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, signed years ago to regulate commercial air transportation between both countries, has worsened.
The Nigerian Ministry of Aviation has slashed British Airways flight slots from seven to three on London-Lagos route in response to complaints by Nigeria’s largest airline, Arik Air that the British authorities have denied it landing slots at Heathrow Airport in London.
In a statement, British Airways said that its scheduled flights will go ahead as planned as the matter was in the hands of their government.
Under the BASA agreement, Britain and Nigeria agreed that each country would give each other 21 weekly frequencies for their commercial airlines.
This means that British commercial planes would be allowed into Nigeria 21 times a week while Nigerian commercial aircraft would be accorded equal treatment in Britain.
But that was only on paper. In reality, while Nigeria has allowed British airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, free access into the country, the British authorities have added some bottlenecks that were not part of the agreement, thus sending Nigerian airlines out of business on London routes.
Nov52011