Business
Nigeria fare row with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic continues
“It (the ban) would cause potential foreign investors to question whether they want to put their money in Nigeria and have a long-term and damaging effect on Nigeria’s growth,” the British High Commission spokesman said.
“The prime minister and President Goodluck Jonathan signed a joint communique last year pledging to double bilateral trade. Action against BA and Virgin would damage that strategic aim.”
A BA official in Abuja declined to comment.
The fare dispute is running parallel to another row between Nigeria and Britain over airport landing slots.
Nigeria’s biggest carrier Arik Air said this month it would have to stop its daily flights between Abuja and London Heathrow because it was being prevented from getting arrival and departure slots at UK airports.
“It is wrong to suggest that Arik has been prevented from flying into Heathrow. Our understanding is that Arik is just unwilling to pay for the cost of renting or buying landing slots,” the British spokesman said, adding it was something all airlines who want new slots into Heathrow needed to do.
