AON decries Emirates’ double-daily flights from two Nigerian exit points

…says it’s colossal plundering of the nation’s economy

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has decried the double-daily flights out of two major Nigerian cities – Lagos and Abuja – being operated by Emirates Airline.

Emirates currently operates two daily flights out of Lagos and two daily flights out of Abuja, an unfair right that was recently granted by the Nigerian government at the detriment of the indigenous carriers.

The AON said it was unthinkable for the government to have granted such unfair liberty to the UAE airline, knowing fully well that it puts the indigenous carriers at a massive disadvantage.

According to the association, what is more, worrisome is that the frequencies were increased at a time when a Nigerian carrier – Air Peace – began flights to the UAE with 100 per cent Nigerian-licensed pilots, engineers, cabin crew and flight dispatchers.

Chairman of AON, Capt. Nogie Meggison, told correspondents in Lagos today that the unfair situation will not only threaten operations of Air Peace on the newly launched Sharjah route but rip off the nation’s economy in various ways.

“It is very unfair for Emirates to be allowed such increase barely two (2) weeks after the launch of flights on July 5, 2019, to Sharjah, UAE by Air Peace, our very own Nigerian airline.

The move effectively places our indigenous carriers at a massive disadvantage, the Nigerian economy and the jobs of our youths and huge capital flight,” said Nogie.

According to him, the Nigerian government has ignored pleas made by the association on the need to stand tall and protect Air Peace and other indigenous airlines to survive in their international operations.

He said the government’s failure to protect its own indigenous carriers in situations like this has grounded many airlines in the past.

“It is unfair to unleash a band of ravenous and voracious wolves against a harmless and privately funded puppy that is still trying to find its feet and doing all it can to survive, create economic impact and jobs for our youths.

It is the role of Government, therefore, to protect our very own Nigerian Carriers and preserve the Nigerian economy and the jobs of our unemployed youths.

“The additional double daily flights given to Emirates, a highly subsidized airline is not necessary at this time as statistics show that half of the flights out of Abuja are half empty and the fact that the Emirati airlines already have an unfair trade advantage of 150 flights monthly out of Nigeria; as against 12 monthly flights for Nigerian airlines that should have been allowed to stabilize and grow its operations into the UAE to a level where the airline can compete favourably on the route.

“We would, therefore, like to use this medium to call on the government to review all existing BASAs to readdress the unfair trade advantage given to foreign airlines against Nigerian airlines.

“This will go a long way to safeguard the Nigerian economy from continued plundering of our resources, preserve the lively hood of workers in the aviation sector, create jobs for our many unemployed youths, promote technology transfer, and significantly reduce capital flight in line with the vision of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration,” said Nogie.  

He added that Bellview, Arik Air, and Medview, that went before it as they were unable to play in the wild and aggressive field of international aeropolitics, have all been frustrated out of international operations.

And, sadly, Air Peace is still waiting to be allocated a dedicated Lounge or departure wing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport to signify that this is a Nigerian airline; as against the case with Emirates that has a huge Lounge at the Dubai International Airport that is heavily branded in the airline’s colours. The same goes with Etihad in Abu Dhabi, British Airways in London, Lufthansa in Frankfurt, and Air France in Paris.       

In the light of the above, therefore, it is little wonder that the three major carriers in the United States (United, American, and Delta) cried out against the same open skies and anti-competitive behavior.

The US airlines accused them of being funded by their government to the tune of over $50 Billion and undercutting US carriers by offering below-market fares on flights that go to other destinations beyond the Middle East, at the expense of American jobs and the American Economy.

In 2017, the economic policy of the Trump administration to protect the American economy, jobs and the airlines subsequently forced the Emirati airlines to reduce their flights by about 30%.

The above scenario is a classic example of domestic airlines crying out against the unfair competition and having their government standing behind them with full support to effect change and ensure that domestic airlines with private funds get “A Fair Deal” against foreign competition from state-owned airlines.