Bi-Courtney talks up benefits of MMA2 for regional flights

Sade Williams/Business a.m.

Officials of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) are talking up the wide ranging benefits of operating regional flights from MMA2, the privately run airport in Lagos. According to the officials, regional flights operations would be beneficial to all stakeholders, including airlines, passengers and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), Remi Jibodu, head, aeronautical and cargo service, said the operations would also attract foreign direct investment (FDI), apart from portraying a positive attitude of government to the tenets of Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Jibodu, who disclosed that 10 airlines currently operate from the terminal, noted that transiting from domestic to international flights would become seamless if regional operations are conducted from the terminal as approved by the government in 2016.

“There’s the need to let the world know that PPP works in Nigeria and agreements are honoured. Flights connection and transit would be easy and operations become seamless. And we are also talking about FDI. The operations will also benefit FAAN, the airlines and it will also increase revenue for everybody,” he said.

In the same vein, Ajoke Yinka-Olawuyi, head, corporate communications said: “In 2024, we want to improve on customer experience, we want to focus on commencing regional flights from MMA2. If we are allowed to operate regional flights, it will speak volume of all of us, it will speak volume of Nigeria.”

Jibodu disclosed that the operator is already expanding the apron at the regional operations facility, adding that it is deploying new technologies to improve services at the terminal.

Jibodu, who hinted at introducing slot arrangement for airlines at the terminal, said the operator has opened discussions with the airlines, adding that the essence of it all is to have a more organised operation rather than a congested system.

He said: “The arrangement is aimed at reducing congestion and flight delays at the terminal.”