Nigerian travellers have accused foreign airlines operating into the nation’s airports of deploying rickety and dilapidated aircraft on the Nigerian routes.
The travellers who complained bitterly accused Egypt Air, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines, British Airlines of deploying unsafe aircraft to Nigerian routes.
Travellers have said that aircraft deployed for connecting flights into Nigeria from their home countries are in a dilapidated and disrepair state while aircraft from Europe, America or Asia are sophisticated.
According to a Twitter user, @alobalism, Royal Air Maroc aircraft for connecting flights to Nigeria are in a dilapidated condition.
“The aircraft flying from London to Casablanca is good but you see the aircraft from Casablanca to Lagos is really an eyesore. I don’t know why airlines use such airplanes to carry Nigerian passengers. Same thing with Turkish Air,” he tweeted.
Another X user, @livingsoul4u, said, “Exactly from the US to Casablanca their aircraft is fantastic and the treatment is top notch but from Casablanca to Nigeria they bring one rickety aircraft and they treat us like we are not humans.”
On his part, @Folagbade, said, “They don’t regard us at all. British Airways flights from the US will use almost sparkling aircraft to Heathrow then the aircraft to Nigeria are those ones that are like “Molue”. No be their fault.
Another X user, @amara, said, “Eyesore is an understatement. Those aircraft are terrible even Nigeria local airlines don’t use such aircraft. I can never forget my experience on 5th September with Royal Air Maroc. We nearly crashed with that ‘molue’ flight @fkeyamo please do something about those airlines.”
On the part of @evidencebyme, the aircraft used by Egyptair from Egypt to Nigeria is in despair.
“Same with Egypt Air. The aircraft from Egypt to Canada were great and services. But the one coming to Nigeria is ‘molue’.”
However, experts said foreign airlines deployed rickety aircraft on Nigerian routes due to lack of competition from local airlines.
They argued that as long as the NCAA certifies the aircraft to be safe and airworthy, there is no cause for alarm.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the head, Research & Corporate Travel, Zenith Travel & Consul, Olumide Ohunayo, said Nigerians flying Royal Air Maroc and other Airlines are for price reduction and not for convenience.
Ohunayo, who is the general secretary of Aviation Round Table Initiative (ARTI), said unless there is competition on a route, airlines will always cut costs to make more profit.
“Because there is lack of competition on Lagos Casablanca and Lagos Rabat routes will make them not put their most expensive aircraft on it.
Again, the most important thing is for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to certify the safety of the aircraft to operate into the country.
“The mentioned airlines must have met all the regulations of NCAA but, only competition brings out the best of aircraft and every airline wants to beat cost so if I have a route where there is no competition and the margin is low, for instance, how many people go to Casablanca? Passengers flying Air Maroc are flying to the Middle-East or those who don’t want to pay high fares on Virgin or British Airways.
“When you go through Casablanca, you are not expecting service but reduction of cost and they are the least expensive airlines to connect your destination. I don’t want to veer into the beauty or age of aircraft but the safety and if it has been certified safe by the Moroccan or Nigerian authorities, then, they can fly,” Ohunayo stated.
He, however, reiterated further that competition will bring out the best aircraft on a route.
“It’s the only competition that can bring out a modern fleet of aircraft. When there is competition, you will see the best of the airlines. For instance, there is competition beyond Morocco, you see that they brought out aircraft that can compete and bring down the price. I think it’s more competition and price that bring out more modern aircraft,” he stated.
Also speaking, the chief executive officer, Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult, Capt. John Ojikutu, said the NCAA has responsibilities over foreign Aircraft especially if there is an issue in aircraft service.
“The NCAA has the responsibility of oversight on every airline aircraft including foreign airlines who operate to the country and have submitted their Standards of Operations to the NCAA for oversight and enforcement. The NCAA has the right to prevent the aircraft from taking off if there Safety issues in aircraft services
“It is only the NCAA, as the responsible authority on Safety and Security Regulations Oversight and their enforcement on the Domestic Airlines and the scheduled foreign airlines to Nigeria, that can do something, provided the NCAA inspectors know what they are looking for,” the former Secretary General of ARTI.
