THE Federal Government has again assured of its wilingess to protect the Nigerian travelling public from high, unfair and discriminatory airfares by foreign airlines operating flights to the country.Also yesterday, British Airways rejected the allegations of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which accused two British carriers of unfair and discriminatory high airfares against Nigerian passengers.The government spoke against the backdrop of price fixing allegations by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways on the London to Lagos and Abuja flights, which has resulted in what the government described as airfare disparity in the region.Speaking at the United Airline's inaugural flight into Lagos from Houston at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos yesterday, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah stated that the country is an open market suited for exploration and not exploitation from operators who feel they have dominant positions.The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Director General, Dr. Harold Demuren, who represented the Minister of Aviation at the ceremony said, 'Nigeria is open for exploration and close to exploitation. Nigerian consumers will not be exploited.'This is coming amid reports that the NCAA has ordered the British airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways, to pay about N35 million ($235 million) as compensation to Nigerian passengers that flew with them during the period in question.Demuren said that while the government was committed to opening up Nigeria and the aviation industry for business, it will not tolerate the exploitation of the Nigerian people.He said the commencement of flights to Nigeria by UAL was part of the benefits of Nigeria achieving the Category One Status of the United States of America's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), stressing that the country is working towards improving its aviation infrastructure.'Our markets will grow, our infrastructure will improve, we want to make Lagos and Abuja aviation hubs in West Africa,' he added.'As part of the transformation agenda, the minister made it clear that it must open up the market. Nigeria's market is open for exploration but closed to exploitation. Nigerian passengers are entitled to the best. We will not tolerate unfair practices,' he said.'The NCAA has concluded that both airlines violated Nigerian law, exploited Nigerian consumers and have remained adamant about whether those consumers should be compensated even when confronted with the fact that they are already compensating similar consumers in Britain ' their home country and the United States, 'Demuren noted.
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