The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has asked Air France-KLM, a French airline, to offer lower-priced tickets to Nigerian travelers, stressing the importance of fairness in ticket pricing.
This information was shared in a press release signed by Tunde Moshood, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to Keyamo, on Monday.
PUNCH remembers that over two years ago, foreign airlines, including Air France-KLM, stopped offering low-priced tickets for Nigerian routes due to the inability to access ticket revenue, which amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars in Nigeria.
However, in March, the airlines began reinstating their low-cost fares after the Central Bank of Nigeria settled the payment of a backlog of around $7 billion, which included over $700 million in unremitted ticket revenue.
The statement mentioned, “During the meeting, Air France-KLM expressed appreciation for the improved facilities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, particularly acknowledging the enhanced experience at wing E. They also extended gratitude for the Minister’s leadership in fostering a smoother relationship between their team and various aviation regulatory agencies.
“Highlighting their commitment to innovation and service excellence, Air France-KLM announced the launch of their new Airbus A330/A350 aircraft, emphasizing their dedication to deploying modern and improved aircraft services on routes within Nigeria. This initiative aligns with their overarching goal of providing Nigerian travelers with a superior journey experience.
“Air France-KLM commended the Minister for his intervention and successful facilitation of fund repatriation, showcasing the effectiveness of collaborative efforts in overcoming challenges within the aviation sector.
“In response, the Minister welcomed the Air France-KLM team and expressed gratitude for their visit. He emphasized the importance of fair pricing for Nigerian travelers, urging the airline to consider offering lower-priced tickets to ensure fairness with fares in neighboring regions.”
Keyamo stressed Nigeria’s dedication to collaborating with the travel industry to improve travel accessibility and affordability for Nigerians.
“He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to fostering partnerships within the travel industry, emphasizing the government’s open-door policy and willingness to collaborate with airlines to improve travel accessibility and affordability for all Nigerians.
“The courtesy visit by Air France-KLM demonstrates the mutual dedication to advancing the aviation sector in Nigeria and sets the stage for future collaborations aimed at providing exceptional travel experiences to passengers across the nation.
