Nigerian Airlines Under-utilising Opportunities On Lagos- London Route – Ex-Aviation Authority DG

The former director general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, has lamented that Nigeria is failing to fully harness the vast opportunities embedded in its Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA), especially on the lucrative Lagos–London route.

Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday at the Inaugural Lecture of Saptco Communication Limited organised by former NCAA spokesman, Sam Adurogboye, and titled “International Politics: The Survival of Nigerian Carriers on the London Route,” Demuren said the sector continued to lose out due to the limited capacity of Nigerian airlines.

According to him, interlining, strategic partnerships, and strong government backing are critical if Nigerian carriers are to unlock the full value of the BASA frameworks. He stressed that although Nigeria has signed numerous air service agreements, its inability to reciprocate these rights stems largely from weak airline capacity.

“BASA is an agreement between two countries; both parties must benefit. If not, it becomes a bad agreement,” Demuren said.

“Nigeria is not fully exploiting the BASA benefits due to capacity constraints. Interlining, partnerships and strong government support are required to unlock full value. The good thing is that BASAs can still be renegotiated, but it requires firmness from both sides.”

Demuren added that while foreign airlines continue to ramp up frequencies into Nigeria, domestic carriers lack the capacity to reciprocate, calling on the government to provide the necessary support to help indigenous airlines expand and compete globally.

On interlining and airline cooperation, Demuren said local interlining between Nigerian carriers should come first before being extended to regional partners.

“Ultimately, join global alliances for seamless connectivity (One World, Star Alliance, SkyTeam), open new frontiers: South Atlantic and Far East Strategy. Nigeria—Brazil creates a new South Atlantic corridor for trade and passenger flow.

“Enables connection to the US without transiting through Europe. Open routes to the Far East, like China and India,” he said.

He spoke on capital flight, stating that Nigerians flying via foreign Carriers (BA, Virgin, KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, Delta, United Emirates, Qatar, Ethiopian) were forex and revenue going abroad.

“At one time, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) earned 50 per cent of its ticket sales from Nigeria, showing the scale of capital flight. ET was then and still the country’s number one foreign exchange earner.

“Lagos and Abuja are used as a feeder hub to fill foreign long-haul aircraft. Nigeria is exporting wealth and growing foreign aviation industries.

According to him, route value is an airline asset; the biggest asset of an airline, not shown on the balance sheet, is the routes. Routes represent guaranteed revenue, market presence, and bargaining power.

Speaking on why Lagos to London mattered, he said: “The Beautiful Bride. One of the biggest-yield routes in the world. Massive passenger volume driven by business, diaspora, and trade.

“Significant purchasing power. Nigeria and the UK have economic and cultural ties. School, housing, health care.. The UK is a second home to many Nigerians.

On BASA terms, he stated that Nigeria was not utilising and exploiting it due to capacity constraints, emphasising the importance of interlining, partnerships, and government support.

He urged that Nigeria could survive in the global aviation market only by turning Its Aviation politics into a strategy, leveraging its high-value routes, building alliances, and infrastructure, among other measures.

In his remarks, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, represented by FAAN’s Director of Special Duties, Obiageli Orah, stated that the current administration was committed to ensuring that Nigerian airlines fully benefit from BASA opportunities.

He revealed that the government had engaged top aircraft manufacturers and lessors, including Boeing, to create new avenues for Nigerian carriers to acquire aircraft and build capacity.

“Our passion to support domestic airlines took us to manufacturers like Boeing to advance new collaboration opportunities,” Keyamo said.

“We aim to reconnect our airlines to international partners, increase their capacity, and provide an enabling environment for them to thrive.”

On her part, the representative of the NCAA director general, Bukola Teriba, said the Authority remained committed to championing Nigeria’s interests in international aero politics.

She emphasised that the growth and competitiveness of Nigerian carriers required a unified approach involving regulators, airport authorities, diplomats, and aviation stakeholders.

“The success of Nigerian carriers cannot be the task of one agency or one airline. It requires unity of purpose,” she said.

“Nigeria has the market, the talent, and the spirit. With collective determination, there is no global route where our carriers cannot excel.”

Teriba reassured stakeholders that ongoing diplomatic and regulatory engagements aim to consolidate current gains and position Nigerian airlines for stronger global competitiveness.