Foreign airlines face summer schedule blacklisting if not engaging local caterers

L-R: Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, permanent secretary, Ministry of Aviation of and Aerospace Development; Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development; Chris Najomo, director general, NCAA; Buhari Abdulfatai, chairman, senate committee on aviation; and Olubunmi Kuku, managing director, FAAN, during the Stakeholders Forum on Transforming the Aviation Industry in Lagos, recently

Sade Williams/Business a.m.

Foreign airlines face a summer schedule blacklist in Nigeria if they fail to engage local caterers, Festus Keyamo, the country’s minister of aviation and aerospace development has warned.

The minister has authority to approve the summer schedule of foreign carriers operating into Nigeria but he has warned he will withhold his approval for any airline that fails to patronise local caterers.

Keyamo, speaking at the recent stakeholders’ engagement on transforming the Aviation Industry Through Strategic Partnerships: Advancing Airport Sustainable Development, in Lagos, asked the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure the airlines comply with the directive.

“Until they show me agreements demonstrating partnerships with our local caterers I will not approve the summer schedule for foreign airlines. If you want to leave Nigeria because of food, you can, our airlines will fly the routes,” Keyamo warned.

He expressed frustration that Nigerian catering companies have been  excluded from the lucrative airline catering business, despite foreign carriers profiting considerably from Nigerian routes.

On developments made so far, Keyamo pointed  at the modernisation of D and E Wings of Lagos airport, which was done recently in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and United Bank for Africa, adding that over $830 million trapped funds of foreign airlines were cleared within the first six months while government made new policy that allowed easy access to forex by airlines.

“The Lagos-London route has been opened courtesy of the doggedness of Air Peace and its chairman, and for the first time, a deliberate policy was made to support our local airlines. We ensured the interline agreement between Air Peace and Emirates. Access to aircraft financing and leasing was made possible through the Cape Town Convention Practice Direction. We have devoted funds to training and capacity development apart from making deliberate efforts on optimisation of revenue.

“The  historic trip we made to Dublin for the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on dry leasing and ease of doing aviation business; we also have plans for the North East region to receive its first international airport. Maiduguri airport is currently undergoing substantial upgrades to achieve international status, a development which represents a major milestone for the North-East region, which has long sought improved international connectivity. Lastly, our policy direction on patronage of local caterers by foreign airlines subsists,” he said.