National Council for Arts and Culture boss warns Nigeria Air not to give out free tickets

DIRECTOR-general of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) Otunba Olusegun Runsewe has asked the federal government not to give free tickets to politicians and officials who would patronise the services of the new national carrier.

Last week, at the Farnborough Air Show in Kent, aviation minister Hadi Sirika, revealed the name and logo of the new airline to be known as Nigeria Air following extensive negotiations with several international airlines and aircraft manufacturers. He pointed out that Nigeria Air will fly to 80 different destination and will have a fleet of 30 aircraft once it becomes operational.

Shedding further light on the planned carrier, Mr Sirika pointed out that the federal government is seeking a strategic partner to operate the carrier, stressing that the state would not own more than 5% of the new carrier. According to Mr Sirika, a private operator, sought through a public private partnership process, would manage the airline which is due to start operations in December, without interference.

Commenting on the development, Otunba Runsewe said anybody that patronises the national carrier should be made to pay the complete air fare. He added that it should not be business as usual, stressing that the former national carrier, Nigerian Airways, failed because of free tickets to government officials and other unprofessional business practices.

Otunba Runsewe said: “The name and logo of the new national carrier, Nigeria Air was recently unveiled and would be inaugurated in December 2018. I am appealing that there should be no free tickets, everybody should pay and get the right services like it is being done all over the world.

“What killed Nigeria Airways was the patronage of the who is who’ in the system but the body language of the minister has shown that the new national career is going to be strictly for business. If the national career Nigerian Air begins operation, it will definitely increase our gross domestic product and I pray it comes to stay and this time, there will be no free tickets."

Air Nigeria is expected to operate 40 domestic, regional and sub-regional routes, as well as 41 international destinations. According to the government, a majority stake could be available to an overseas backer as it seeks know-how and cash to help the start-up avoid the fate of former flag carriers.

Mr Sirika, who is currently negotiating with several international airlines about holding a stake in Nigeria Air, said the new operator plans to begin flying with a fleet of 15 leased aircraft. In Nigeria, at current air traffic in the country is around 15m passengers and this is expected to grow at 5% per annum through to 2036.