UK and Nigeria Agree Tentative Accord to Bilateral Disagreement

Aviation authorities in Nigeria and the UK have reportedly reached a tentative agreement that will safeguard air links between the two countries after politicians in the African carrier threatened to pull some of British Airways’ rights to fly to Nigeria. The impasse had developed, it is understood, after Arik Air was forced to cancel its Abuja – London route this winter after failing to secure slots at London Heathrow.

According to the news reports, when it came to launching the Abuja – London route Arik Air was unable to secure slots at London Heathrow. But, rather than fly to another London airport and the associated set-up and support costs, the airline instead chose to rent some slots from another carrier. However, ahead of the Northern Winter 2011/2012 it was unable to secure any slots at the airport and was forced to suspend the route. An estimated 170,000 O&D passengers flew between Abuja and London Heathrow in the past year, with around 31 per cent making use of the Arik Air service, with average fares around a third of the price of those being offered by British Airways.

Under the existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) airlines are permitted to offer up to six daily flights between two countries with the allocations split evenly between the two sides. The UK entitlement is currently taken up with British Airways offering daily flights to Lagos and Abuja and Virgin Atlantic Airways a daily link to Lagos. From the Nigerian side, Arik Air currently offers a daily Lagos service and had operated until this winter a flight from Abuja. National carrier Air Nigeria also plans to launch a daily connection between Lagos and London, albeit serving Gatwick Airport.

However, Just days after the Arik Air story hit the African press it emerged that Nigeria was threatening to reduce British Airways’ rights at Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport meaning that it would only permitted to operate three weekly flights. The final deadline to resolve this issue was this week and according to local reports an agreement of sorts has now been reached to retain the current flight schedule until the end of the year.

"The issues are being resolved and negotiations with the British government are ongoing. In the meantime BA flights will continue seven times a week to Lagos until the end of December," Joel Obi of the Nigerian Aviation Ministry told Reuters. It is understood that under the terms of the deal, Arik Air will once again be permitted access to London Heathrow to resume its service from Abuja. However, the Nigerian Aviation Ministry has warned in a statement that it “will not stand idly by while Nigerian flag carriers are unfairly treated when BASA agreements clearly state otherwise,” said a statement from the ministry earlier this week said.