The Federal Government has warned Virgin Atlantic and British Airways for treating Nigerians on board their flights with contempt.
A statement from the office of the Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, states that the two airlines have been treating Nigerians with the �utmost contempt� when they are checking in and airborne.
It further explained that the minister had formally warned one of the airlines in the past over disgraceful treatment they meted out to some Nigerian passengers when the airlines were petitioned.
Fani-Kayode therefore warned the two airline operators that major sanctions would be meted to them should another complaint of maltreatment is reported to his office.
�Let it be understood clearly by all and sundry that Nigerians are not second class citizens and the Minister would not sit by and allow our people to be treated like animals by anybody or for any reason �.
He also advised that henceforth both carriers should offer better training and far more discipline to both their ground and air staff and encourage them to treat Nigerians with respect and decency just as they do to non-Nigerians.
In another development, Fani-Kayode also Approved, with immediate effect, the appointment of Mr. Akin Olukunle and Mr Supo Atobatole as General Managers (GM) Public Affairs for Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) respectively.