Arik Air: Senate Backs Ultimatum Against BA

The Senate Committee on Aviation says it supports the 9 November deadline given by the Ministry of Aviation to British Airways to restore the full slots-to-land given to Arik Air at Heathrow Airport, London.

The ultimatum was informed by complaints from Arik Air that British Airways had violated the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between both countries by reducing its landing slots at Heathrow.

The committee, which made public its position at the end of a public hearing on Wednesday in Abuja, said British Airways was acting contrary to the agreement between Nigeria and the UK.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation, Mrs Ann Ene-Ita, told newsmen after the hearing that Arik Air was denied landing slots in Heathrow Airport.

“On October 28, the airline stopped flying Abuja-Heathrow and no investigation has indicted Arik as it still flies Lagos-Heathrow,” she said.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, said government had a responsibility to protect local investors and called on the British authorities to comply with the ultimatum.

“When you do business with us, it is the way you treat us that we will treat you. So if the situation is not rectified within the given period, we will have to take action,” he said.

The management of Arik Air had complained that the BASA agreement between Nigeria and UK had been breached.

It said out of 21 slots each country enjoyed unhindered, it had lost nine.