The request by management of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) to Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the approval of the proposal for the commencement of regional flights at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), Lagos, suffered a major setback yesterday as aviation union, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) urged the regulator to reject the proposal.
General Secretary of NUATE, Mr Olayinka Abioye in his condemnation of the proposal, said on Wednesday that aviation unions would continue to mobilise against the proposal.
It would be recalled that that BASL, operator of MMA2 had on Monday asked the NCAA to restore its approval for commencement of regional flights from the terminal.
The Chief Operating Officer, BASL, Capt. Jari Williams said the request was premised on the huge investment the firm had committed to the upgrade of facilities at the terminal for the planned operations.
He said BASL was particularly worried that the NCAA after giving permission for the commencement of regional operations had to withdraw it on two occasions.
But Abioye told journalists insisting that NUATE and other unions in the sector would continue to oppose the move to grant the controversial terminal the regional status because of its contentious nature.
“We are still very much opposed to Bi-Courtney operating regional flights from MMA 2.
“It will not only impact negatively on the revenue of federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), but it will also create operational discomfort for passengers.
“This is because of the issue of space which Bi-Courtney does not have to accommodate regional flights at the terminal.’’
According to him, it is also unclear whether those airlines that are already engaged in regional flights at the international wing of the airport will be compelled to relocate their offices to MMA 2.
“There are a lot of questions and I think it is in the wisdom of the Federal Government through the NCAA to reject giving approval for regional flights in that terminal,’’ he said.
Another stakeholder who spoke on the condition of anonymity said such approval would jeopardise the concession move of the Federal government on Lagos international airport. saying the would be new concessionaire would have its revenue drastically reduced if regional operations are given to BASL .
The federal government would be working against its policy on concession of four international airports; especially the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, if it decided to approve regional operation at MMA2. It would amount to concessioning half of the entity to the concessionaire at the price of whole.
This would be seen as a big fraud on the part of the government. Whatever name BASL wants to disguise the proposed operations, it is nothing but international operations. It should be allowed to remain with the international terminal operator which for now is FAAN.
