FG mulls slot system to checkmate foreign airlines

In the wake of the latest diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Nigerian Government is to introduce a slot system in regulating the operation of foreign airlines into Nigeria. The slot system according to the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu is to eliminate “unfair […]

In the wake of the latest diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Nigerian Government is to introduce a slot system in regulating the operation of foreign airlines into Nigeria.

The slot system according to the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu is to eliminate “unfair commercial advantage” in the implementation of the bilateral air services agreements (BASAs) with other countries.

Nuhu who spoke with newsmen in Lagos yesterday also gave an update on when Emirates is likely to resume operations, saying, “They (UAE authorities) have said Air Peace can operate to UAE, but we want it to be made available to us officially. Once this is done, their airline can resume operations as they requested.”

The Federal Government had reduced Emirates’ frequencies from 21 weekly flights to one weekly flight with effect from last week in reciprocity against the refusal of Sharjah Airport authorities to grant the three slots requested for.

But the UAE authorities had bowed to pressure, granting Air Peace seven slots – one in Sharjah and six in Dubai International Airports.

The NCAA boss however said going further the Federal Government would introduce the slot system which would be “tit-for-tat.”

He said, “Let me use an example and I am not saying that is what we are going to do, but just as an example. If a Nigerian airline is going to the United Kingdom and they insist that the Nigerian airline must buy slots, then any British airline coming into Nigeria will need to pay for slots too. It is tit-for-tat.

“If you tell me a particular airline from Nigeria cannot go to Heathrow because you cannot get slots, then, their airlines too cannot come into Lagos because of slot issues. If you tell me a particular airline from Nigeria must pay, for instance, 100,000 pounds to operate to Heathrow, then, their own airline will have to pay the same amount of money to operate to Lagos. It is going to be reciprocity.

“We cannot hide under the issue of slots to give unfair commercial advantages to foreign airlines over Nigerian airlines. We had made mistakes in the past, we have learned from our mistakes and we are going to correct the mistakes.

“Lagos Airport was built for less than 300,000 passengers in 1979 and the airport is doing more than 8 million passengers annually now and you are telling them your airport is doing above capacity, Lagos Airport is doing far above 1,000 percent capacity. It is no longer acceptable. No one should come here and give us stories.”

On the letter from the UAE to Air Peace, he disclosed that the Ministry of foreign affairs is in the process of authenticating the letter to Air Peace.

“It is important to have all these officially. So, the Nigerian Government is ready to allow the operations to start through the proper diplomatic channel. The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has written to the Foreign Affairs of UAE to confirm officially if the letter was from them. Then, we will see where we go from there. It is important to have this fairness, transparency and equity,” he added.