Agency Report
Domestic carriers are counting their losses over the inability to carry out flights from the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal (MMA2) Ikeja in Lagos.
Since the early hours of Tuesday, only three airlines- Ibom Airlines, United Airlines and Valujet Airlines- were able to operate single flights out of the terminal.
Stranded passengers, who could not gain entrance to the MMA2, are rushing to the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to purchase tickets and process their flights.
Worried over the development, one of the affected carriers – Ibom Air called on the feuding parties to seek an amicable resolution to the crisis.
In a statement Ibom Air management said: “This is to bring to the attention of our esteemed passengers and the public, that our operating terminal out of Lagos, the Murtala Mohamed Airport 2, operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited has been completely closed off to workers and passengers alike by the Labour Union, very early this morning.
“Efforts are currently being made to resolve the situation; however, please note that this action will greatly impact our flights scheduled in and out of Lagos today.
“We greatly regret the impact of this unexpected action on your day’s plans as we urge you to kindly stay close to all our communication channels for subsequent updates.:
Commenting on the development, a passenger lamented:” As we speak, no other flight has been able to operate from the terminal as the protesters are preventing intending passengers from gaining access into the terminal.”
Aviation unions are accusing the terminal operator: Bi- Courteney Aviation Services Limited ( BASL) management of terminating the employment of the 37 staff without recuse to due process.
