Senate Probes British Airways, Virgin: Lagos to London First-Class Return Tickets Cost N 1.7 M

The Senate has condemned the exorbitant and arbitrary charges British air carriers place on Nigerian passengers who purchase premium airline tickets for travel to and from London. First class return tickets cost as much as N 1.6 million if bought from British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, yet the companies charge Ghanians as little as N 800,000 for the same tickets.

In view of this exploitation, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Hope Uzodinma has introduced a motion entitled “Violation of aviation laws and practices by foreign airlines in Nigeria”.

He said, “A first class Lagos-London return ticket costs $10,816 and Abuja-London return ticket goes for $10,144; whereas the passenger on the Accra-London route pays only $4,798.

“In the same vein, while business class Lagos-London return fare is $7,370; on the Accra-London route, it is $4,098”.

“Return economy ticket from London-New York was $625; London-Dallas, $787; London-Florida, $730; and London-Atlanta, $772. These routes are nine-hour flights minimum, while the cheapest return economy ticket from Abuja-London, which is six hours, amounts to $1,200.”

He stated that the unfair practices of BA and Virgin Atlantic had led to the loss of N 3.7 billion in revenue to the Federal Government in for of the statutory VAT tax because Nigerian travelers were now moving to Ghana to purchase tickets.

Also speaking on the issue, Senate President, David Mark, described the fares as “unreasonable” and “exploitative”.

He said, “Nobody should tell us to sit down here and not do anything about it because Nigerians are willing to pay. Our regulatory agencies have done absolutely nothing; in fact, they are part of the problem because they have been colluding with them; otherwise, they would have been the ones to raise the issue.

“They have watched helplessly. They have refused to act; otherwise they would be the ones to force British Airways to look at what they are doing.”

The Senate has called for amendments to the Civil Aviation Act (2006) in order to give the lawmakers teeth in reprimanding the foreign airlines, as the law stands no action can be taken against the foreign carriers.

Also the Senate has moved to compel government officials who constitute 80% of those who purchase the exploitative air tickets to fly Nigerian carriers.