NANTA Refutes Reports on British Airways Suspending flights to Nigeria

Olufemi Adeyemi 

It was earlier reported that the British flag carrier, British Airways has given the federal government an ultimatum within when to pay its trapped funds or watch it pull out from Nigeria by December.

According to report on Friday, the British airline also closed its inventory this morning to ameliorate further accumulation of trapped funds in Nigeria and to henceforth commence issuance of tickets only in dollars.

The report also shows that a statement was issued by the leadership of NANTA to its members declared: “As members may be aware that British Airways closed inventory this morning, please be informed that this inventory closure is a necessary action taken by British Airways to mitigate the increase of their trapped funds.

However,  the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has described as ‘totally false’ the news credited to it, carried by some news platforms that British Airways plans to withdraw services from the Nigerian route.

In a statement by NANTA signed by it’s Public Relations Officer on Friday, it stated that the association never said that British Airways gave a deadline and will stop flying to Nigeria. “NANTA never issued a press statement to that effect. It is not in the purview of NANTA to issue such statement,” NANTA said.

According to the association, the National Executive Council of NANTA went into a business meeting with British Airways, where British Airways gave assurance that it remains committed to servicing the needs of travel agencies in Nigeria.

“NANTA as partners to all the airlines in Nigeria has taken it as a responsibility to visit the carriers to empathise with them concerning their trapped funds and to re-affirm our commitment as trade partners.

“Aside Emirates Airlines that has made withdrawal notice public, no other airline has announced or expressed the desire to stop flying to Nigeria as far as we know,” NANTA added.

“However, British Airways provides reassurance that it is still flying in and out of Nigeria and is currently seeking earnest solutions to address the demands of its customers.”

The travel agencies’ representatives promised to intimate its members subsequently on how existing tickets will henceforth be serviced.

August 26, 2022