Domestic airline opera
tors have urged the
Federal Government to review the policy of granting multiple entries to foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.
The policy, according to the operators, shrinks the domestic market and discourages partnership with foreign airlines, thereby denying Nigeria the technical and economic benefits.
Besides, they noted that the multiple entry points deny domestic carriers the opportunity to operate international services as their foreign counter parts mop up passengers for international destinations.
The operators argued that in other parts of the world, governments put in place policies that enhance the growth of local airlines, whereas the Nigerian government granted multiple entry points to foreign airlines, thereby denying indigenous airlines the chance to air lift passengers from international airports to international gateways like Abuja and Lagos.
For instance, Medview Airlines last year planned to operate international service  to Singapore but while dealing with paper work, Ethiopian Airlines quickly designated its operations to the destination.
Over the years, Ethiopian Airline has been airlifting Nigerians to far and Middle East countries. The operators said the implication is that Medview Airline which is a local carrier, will be competing for Nigerian passengers to Singapore, with Ethiopian Airline which is a foreign operator carrier.
They also recalled that last year, when Arik Air planned to begin flights to Brazil, the same Ethiopian Airline in partnership with its subsidiary Asky which is head quartered in Togo designated its operations to Brazil from Cotonou from where Nigerian passengers are connected to Lagos from Rio Janeiro.
With the multiple points of entry granted the foreign airlines, the federal government has shored Nigeria in traffic among international airlines leaving almost no opportunity to local airlines.
Last month Arik Air commenced operation to Dubai from Lagos Via Abuja. Less than a month the operation started, Ethiopian Airline is scheming to add additional frequency to its Lagos operation because Ariks service is hurting its Abuja operations.
Also Emirates Airlines is planning to start additional flights, Lagos via Abuja to Dubai operation in order to under cut Arik, which has been recording high load factor since it began operation.
Executive chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Megison, expressed regret that government is killing Nigerian airlines with its polices.
“It goes back to government polices which have failed to protect Nigerian Market and Labour”, Megison stated.
According to him, we have allowed the foreigners to take the pilots jobs, we have allowed the foreigners to do multiple entries into our airports because our polices are so lose and we allow them to take all the passengers at the detriment of the Nigerian carriers.