Business
Nigeria fare row with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic continues
Nigeria’s Aviation Minister., Stella Oduah
Nigeria has given airlines British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic 30 days to lower fares or face a ban from flying to the West African nation, its aviation minister – Stella Oduah said on Monday.
Britain responded by saying it could take retaliatory action against Nigerian airlines if a ban was imposed, and that “heavy-handed action” banning private airlines would be “catastrophic” for business confidence in the country.
Ms. Oduah has said it is unfair BA and Virgin charged more to fly to Africa’s biggest oil exporter than to neighboring West African countries.
Its civil aviation authority fined the two airlines last year a combined US$235 million for fixing prices. BA, which is owned by International Airlines Group and Virgin, rejected the accusation.
“We are seriously concerned and worried by the reluctance to restore parity within the region by the foreign airlines,” Oduah said in a statement.
“They have been using all kinds of delay tactics, this is unacceptable and will no longer be tolerated, we will resolve this issue once and for all.”
Britain said only business and first class fares were more expensive to Nigeria than neighboring countries because of high demand for those seats. It also said banning BA and Virgin would break a bilateral air services agreement.
