Medview Airline on Sunday operated its scheduled Lagos-London flight, dismissing claims that the airline had been banned from flying into Europe.
The airline’s B747 aircraft with registration number TM-AMV, took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos enroute Gatwick Airport in London at 1.30pm with 249 passengers.
Medview Airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr Lookman Animashaun, told newsmen that the airline’s operations to London, which it began in November 2015, was not affected by the European Union ban contrary to recent claims in the media.
He said : “When we saw the publication, we came out with a press release explaining the true position of things to Nigerians and which you have also seen today with the flight that just departed.
“Even the day the publication came out, the flight that departed came back on Thursday. We are not perturbed by all these things, but we are concerned about the passengers who might not know the correct situation of things.
“That is why we have to inform them that the Lagos-London operation is normal.”
According to him, the airline has been using the B747 aircraft since December 2016 when it had a large number of passengers due to the festive season.
Animashaun disclosed that Medview Airline had secured two B777 aircraft leased from Euro Atlantic to boost its fleet and international flight operations.
He noted that being the only Nigerian carrier on the London route presently, Medview Airline had helped to stabilise the fares to a large extent.
“Ordinarily in the past, during this period the tickets will be going for 1,000 Pounds or more and we are not even talking of business class.
“But none of them, including British Airways can sell more than 500 Pounds as we speak. If they do, they will not have passengers and this is a big challenge to them.
“My appeal to Nigerians is that they should patronise their own and support their airlines,” Animashaun said.
He reiterated the airline’s commitment to safety and comfort of its passengers, adding that these would not be compromised under any circumstances.
Animashaun also advised the Federal Government to develop a working plan on how to support the domestic airlines, particularly as Nigeria was still without a national carrier.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the airline’s Executive Director, Business Development and Commercial, Mr Isiaq Na’Allah, had earlier clarified the EU’s restriction.
Na’Allah said the airline’s operations to London were in no way affected by the ban because it was being operated with her wet-leased aircraft.
He explained that the ban fell under exception rule in EASA, Annex A, which states that “Air carrier listed in Annex A could be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban”. (NAN)