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Following the recent evacuation order by the Federal
Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to domestic airlines operating at
the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), experts in the sector on Tuesday
criticised the directive, describing it as “dictatorial.” Explaining
that the airlines have tenancy and operational agreements with the
airports authority, the professionals argued that operational issues
should not be with immediate effect as directed, but should be well
planned with both parties coming to an agreement that should give the
least operational and disruption cost.

“FAAN can only refuse to rent out the counters (in
GAT) at the expiration of their (carriers) tenancy, not using the
forceful eviction mode,” said Olumide Ohunayo, head of Zenith Travels
and former president of the National Cabin Crew Association (NACCA).
Last week, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), an umbrella
association for indigenous carriers operating in the country,
instructed its members not to obey the relocation directive issued
domestic airline operators to leave the General Aviation Terminal and
commence operations at the new Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) which
is presently managed by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited.

“FAAN has no right to relocate our members to any
terminal which presently does not belong to them. The action of FAAN is
a violation of contract agreement between FAAN and our members, which
results to victimisation and unnecessary use of force,” said Steve
Mahonwu, Chairman of the AON.

Speaking further on the relocation mandate, Mr.
Ohunayo disclosed that the airports authority should not hold against
the airlines, allegations of repatriating profits to the operator of
the new domestic terminal after generating the revenue from the FAAN
controlled General Aviation Terminal. “It was alleged that some of the
carriers board and park their aircraft at MMA2, while they only sell
tickets at GAT, in a nut shell generating revenue for Bi-Courtney
through the FAAN owned ,GAT,” he said, adding “well, that brand of
marketing is not new to the industry, it’s an age long marketing
strategy employed by the local carriers. It’s not a bad idea provided
they pay for those counters.”

Why exclude Arik?

The former NACCA boss said that the exclusion of Arik
Airline in the relocation directive could best be viewed as
prejudicial, stressing that in the interest of peace and tranquillity,
no carrier should be left to continue operating from the old domestic
terminal.

“Curiously, why was Arik, a private carrier without
any form of public participation excluded from the decree issued by
FAAN ruling council to other privately owned carriers? Was it due to a
pending court case, instituted by Arik? Or is it an attempt to
surreptitiously hand over the GAT terminal to them?” he asked.
“Whichever way fairness and transparency must be paramount or the
attempt will be kicked against.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has remained
silent on the development. However, a copy of the “relocation of
check-in counters to MMA2” directive made available to NEXT did not
stipulate reasons why the airlines are to relocate.