Air services between the UK and Nigeria were suspended in early June as a reciprocal ban of British and Nigerian registered aircraft assumed wider political implications.
The UK Department of Transport banned Nigerian-registered aircraft from British airports in mid-May due to alleged poor safety standards. The Nigerian government retaliated with a ban on flights from Britain into Nigeria. The ban affects British Airways' 'potentially profitable' services to Lagos and Kano and Nigeria Airways, which had hoped to resume services into London after a year's gap following problems with insurance and a lack of aircraft.
The airlines say the ban was sparked by the new UK government's stance on human rights issues. 'We're innocent bystanders - this is a dispute between governments,' says BA, while a Nigeria Airways source says 'we were shocked by the ban - our aircraft satisfied the DOT's requirements'.
Talks between the governments had stalled at press-time. A breakthrough was likely after the UK authorities said Nigeria Airways aircraft would be allowed to resume services if the UK Civil Aviation Authority declared them safe. But inspectors were refused visas to enter Nigeria. Vijay Poonoosamy, African Civil Aviation Commis-sion chairman, says a body like Icao should have sole power to impose such a ban to prevent politically based bans.
Meanwhile, Nigeria Airways' lack of aircraft has forced it to 'outsource' some international operations to Nigerian carrier Bellview Airlines. Bellview was due to start twice-weekly Lagos to Nairobi and Bombay and weekly Lagos-Rio de Janeiro services on Nigeria Airways' behalf on 20 June.
Source: Airline Business
