The 24 foreign airlines flying into
Nigeria are in dilemma on whether to stop or continue flights into the
country as the Federal Government has
yet to approve their summer
schedule, five days after the commencement of the summer season on March
28, 2013.
It is illegal for any airline to fly
into another country without getting approval for its winter and summer
seasonal schedules from the host countries, aviation experts familiar
with the situation have said.
The approval is usually given days ahead
of the expiration of the current season’s schedule in order to avoid a
situation where an airline has to ground its flight operations while
waiting for approval.
Although most of the foreign airlines
have begun implementing their winter schedule, which has yet to be
approved by the Ministry of Aviation, a number of them are, however,
worried that the delay in the approval process may put them in an
unpleasant situation.
A country manager of one of the foreign
airlines, who spoke to our correspondent in confidence because of the
sensitive nature of the subject said, “We are in dilemma whether to stop
our flights to Nigeria or not because we don’t know why the summer
schedule has been delayed up till now. We started implementing our
summer schedule since March 31, but we are very worried.
“This has not happened in a very long
time. So, that is why we are worried. The approval comes usually days
ahead of the commencement of the new season’s schedule.”
It was gathered that one of the numerous
implications of not getting approval for the schedule before flying was
that in the event of a crash or major accident, insurance companies
might refuse to pay compensation to the affected airline and its
passengers because such would be regarded as an illegal flight.
Culled -Punch
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