FG Promises to Support Local Airlines to Grow
Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has stated that the Federal Government will always help local airlines to thrive and flourish, forging new ground to ensure their continued operation.
Mr. Keyamo made this remarks while meeting with the management of NORSE Atlantic Airways, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ben Boiling, in London, UK.
The discussions focussed on NORSE Atlantic Airways’ collaboration with Nigeria’s biggest local carrier, Air Peace Airline.
The Minister praised Air Peace’s expansion on regional and international routes, describing NORSE Atlantic Airways’ cooperation with Air Peace Airline as a positive step forward.
Mr. Keyamo said that one of his Key Performance Indicators and presidential directive was to facilitate the growth and development of Nigeria’s domestic airlines.
He maintained that Aviation one of the key components of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in reviving the economy.
Mr Boiling gave an assurance that NORSE Atlantic Airways was ready to start the partnership with Air Peace Airline, the moment the final authorization was granted to Air Peace Airline for the commencement of direct flights into Gatwick Airport in London from Lagos, Nigeria.
A statement from the Ministry indicates that Nigeria Aeronautical Authority officials from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority [NCAA] were in London to discuss with the officials of Department for Transport of the UK on how to surmount the issue of slot allocation to Air Peace Airline to fly into Gatwick Airport in London from Lagos, Nigeria
According to the statement, since securing its authorization to fly into the UK, after satisfying all the requirements, the issue of slot allocation at Gatwick Airport had been the major obstacle preventing the Airline from commencing the direct flight into London.
It is hoped that the fall out of the meeting would achieve its purpose to enable Air Peace Airline to commence its flight operations into the United Kingdom, which Nigerians have been yearning for.
