Nigerian Airlines to Expand Routes to the US and South America, Says Keyamo
The Nigerian government is taking significant steps to grant local airlines direct access to international routes, particularly to the United States and South America. This initiative was announced by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, during a recent YouTube interview titled “Unfiltered: The Big Interview,” hosted by O’tega Ogra.
Minister Keyamo highlighted that this strategic move aims to expand the global reach of Nigerian airlines and enhance the nation’s connectivity with key international markets. “Our goal is to facilitate direct interactions between Nigeria and the world, thereby boosting our aviation sector,” Keyamo stated during the interview.
This development follows the successful launch of Air Peace’s Lagos-London flight services on March 20. Keyamo explained, “Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) are negotiated between different sovereigns. Once these agreements and reciprocal rights are secured, they can be allocated to local operators, ensuring they are enforced like those for foreign entities.”
He emphasized that competition, not monopoly, is crucial for reducing prices. “British Airways has dominated these routes for years. Attempts by local airlines to compete were previously thwarted, leading to exorbitant ticket prices. By enforcing BASA and enabling Air Peace to operate these routes, we’ve seen ticket prices drop. We’re now focusing on establishing routes to the US and South America,” Keyamo added.
Currently, no airline flies directly to South America from Nigeria, but plans are underway to start this route. Keyamo stressed the importance of recognizing local airlines as national carriers, ensuring they are respected internationally.
Besides granting access to international routes, the government aims to enhance the capacity of local airlines to service these routes. Keyamo noted, “It’s one thing to give them the routes, but we also need to ensure they have the capacity to service them. Access to aircraft is crucial. Most major airlines lease rather than buy their fleets, with about 80% of their planes on dry lease.”
The Federal Government is committed to supporting Nigerian airlines in securing similar leasing arrangements to bolster their operations on these new international routes.
