Aviation Minister Considers Reviewing Air Service Agreement With Foreign Countries

The minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed the possibility of the federal government reviewing all Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), with foreign countries.

LEADERSHIP reports that as at December, 2016, Nigeria had executed Bilateral Air Service Agreements with 90 countries with only 39 of these executed agreements active.

However, speaking when members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), paid a courtesy visit on the minister, Keyamo, urged all airlines to utilise their BASA routes to reduce the prices of airfare.

According to the minister, airline operators should renew and repair their fleets to encourage passengers’ patronage, saying the government is ready to partner and support AON once they are ready to raise the standard of their services.

“I don’t want to operate as a ghost, I said one of my policies is to operate an open policy. Bring up your challenges so that Nigerians would understand exactly where government and airlines operators stands.’’

He also disclosed that he’s ready to support the growth and sustenance of the local airline operators while holding them to the highest international standards in the aviation industry.

According to him, airlines are critical to the growth and development of the aviation industry and the country at large, hence the government is ready to help them operate profitably.

He also pleaded with the airline operators to cooperate among themselves to find a way to establish their businesses such that it will have enough capital base to survive instances like COVID 19 pandemic.

He promised to suggest to the government the possibilities of AON accessing facilities at single digits, including Associated Foreign Exchange (AFEX), to meet their foreign obligations.

Speaking earlier, the President of AON, Dr. Abdulmunaf Yunusa, highlighted some of the constraints and challenges and probable solutions to Nigeria aviation industry.

Abdulmunaf who was represented by Capt. Roland Iyayi, identified foreign exchange, Jet A1 fuel, funding options, infrastructure, taxes, fees and charges as well as government policies as challenges facing the sector.

AON while proposing a solution requested for licences for Jet A1 importation and distribution through strategic partnership and an immediate review of all industry taxes, fees and charges.