LAGOS — Some Nigerian travellers, weekend, raised alarm that British Airways was just charging arbitrary fares to all its destinations from the country, despite government’s insistence that prices must come down.
Although British Airways is still negotiating with government on the matter, Nigerians are saying they could not wait till end of the year for the airline to adjust its fares, specially considering the fact that it had charged high fares for a long time.
The British negotiating team had last week pleaded till end of year to enable it carry out a comprehensive study of the fare regime in other West Africa countries on behalf of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways, with a view to resolving the current impasse.
A regular traveller on the Lagos-London route, Mustapha Kolo, told Vanguard that government should hasten whatever negotiation it was having with the British authorities on the matter.
He said: “How can a traveller in Nigeria pay as much as N1.365 million for a First Class ticket when his counterpart in Accra, Ghana, is paying far less for even longer journey.”
Some travellers also wondered why British Airways would charge Nigerians N649,480 for a Business Class ticket to fly from Lagos to London for 5hrs 55mins, when his counterpart in London would fly same class 7hrs 30mins from London to Boston, USA, for N381,778.
For a Nigerian travelling on the Lagos-London route, BA charges N1.365 million for a First Class for a journey not more than 5001km, while his counterpart in Accra pays N773,798 for 5096.79km.
But the Aviation Ministry appealed to Nigerians to exercise restraint and be patient till end of year which the British negotiating team requested to reverse the present situation, assuring that government would ensure Nigerians were no longer shortchanged on expiration of the deadline given the British team.
An aide of Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi, who preferred anonymity, told Vanguard on the telephone last night that the Federal Government was just waiting for expiration of the end of year deadline to come up with its next line of action .
“We are still negotiating, and we have given them till end of year to reverse the present fare regime. Nigerians should be patient with us,” said the Minister’s aide.
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It is just a pity to note that as FG is fighting both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways for charging Nigerians higher than other West Africa countries, its citizens are still rushing to fly BA & VA.
ReplyDeleteI strongly appeal to those in power to stop shaming the great country, Nigeria. I wish they sit down and think of what those before them did to kill Nigerian Airways. Aviation business not only brings profits, it also create employments.
I pray we have able leadership that bring our country's glory back.