Business
Nigeria fines British Airways and Virgin Atlantic $235 million
“We reject the allegations made by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and we are vigorously defending our position,” a statement said.
“We remain committed to Nigeria and have been flying there for more than 75 years. We pride ourselves on offering competitive fares, a choice of products and connections to our Nigerian customers.”
There was no immediate comment from Virgin Atlantic.
Nigeria’s government has been in negotiations over allegations that British Airways has been overcharging on its routes between Nigeria and Britain.
It has also been in talks with British officials over slots at London’s Heathrow airport. Demuren denied that the fines were linked to the negotiations over the Heathrow slots.
“You can’t take us for a ride,” Demuren said.
Nigeria’s aviation ministry earlier this week said in a statement that British Airways should offer the same or similar fares to the UK as flights from any other location of similar distance within West Africa.
The ministry statement said BA made an offer of a 20 percent reduction in the lowest business class fare, but added that “the Nigerian side considered this as insufficient.”
The civil aviation authority statement alleged that the fuel surcharge on prices “was nothing but an additional fare. The (passenger fuel surcharge) is essentially a fare increase that goes to the airlines.”
It said the airlines would face penalties if they failed to comply with its findings, including “disallowing their flight to enter into Nigerian airspace …”
Copyright 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.
