An aviation analyst and member of the aviation round table, Olumide Ohunayo, has expressed skepticism about the readiness of Nigerian airlines to fly U.S. routes.
His skepticim centres around the news that some Nigerian airlines, including Air Peace, are gearing up to launch flights to the United States soon.
The airlines’ reaction came on the heels of Federal Government’s efforts to support local airline operators in expanding their international reach; even as the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, had promised to further crash the prices of international flights.
Keyamo also explained measures taken by the government to ensure that local operators take full control of international routes in no distant future; promising that his ministry is on course to break the barriers and make the environment conducive for both local and international airlines to thrive.
Speaking on the development, a representative of the Airline Operators of Nigeria said that Air Peace has recently been granted the right to fly to the US, and that other airlines are also being considered.
“The airline that the government gave the right to fly to the US routes is Airpeace. There are other airlines but Airpeace has just been recently offered that,” the representative said.
As far as Ohunayo is concerned, however, he said, “Sincerely, we are not ready. I have not seen any of the airlines in Nigeria being capable of starting the US routes,” he said.
“They have granted some airlines permission to fly to the US. But I don’t see any of the airlines with the capacity to sustain flights to the US.
“Remember what they did to Virgin Atlantic when they had passengers in Virgin Nigeria and they said they will not allow Virgin Atlantic to use the Virgin Nigerian opportunity to enter into America using Virgin Nigeria.
“That is going to happen if we have to go and lease aircraft from any of the countries that are having bilateral issues who they think have taken enough capacity from them.”
He also cited historical challenges and potential bilateral issues, warning, “If our airlines must go, our aircraft must be owned by us. I don’t think we are ready.”
However, in contrast, the Chief Operating Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Osita Okonkwo, asserted that his airline is prepared, pointing out that securing slots and permits from US authorities is the main hurdle.
“We are ready, the fleet is not the issue. The issue is the counterparty’s process of getting slots.
“You can have the fleet and they can delay giving you slots. We are designated to go to the US routes but we have to get slots first. So we are doing the process. Slot and permit are major issues.
“It is a process to go through the Federal Aviation Administration of America. We have to get all those, and then we move to the next stage of going to the airport to get slots. Fleet is not the problem because many people will want to give you aircraft to do it.
Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer of Ibom Air, George Uriesi, stated that his airline has no plans to operate outside Africa. “Africa is where we are interested in. Those whose plan is to go outside Africa, that is for them and not for us,” he said.
Also, the Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Obiora Okonkwo, indicated ongoing efforts to meet the requirements.
“We are working on it from our own side. As soon as the process that is required is over, we will be ready,” he said, underscoring a commitment to achieving compliance.
This is even as Mr. Tunde Moshood, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to aviation minister, explained that the government is willing to allocate more international routes to local operators.
“There are several BASA routes to be fixed for our local operators the moment they show capacity and consistency.
“It’s for the local operators to show readiness and capacity, fixing them for any of the BASA routes is what the Minister has promised,” Moshood said.
