Panel invites BA, Virgin Atlantic over alleged fee racketeering

THE appeal panel set up to look into the legality and fairness of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority's (NCAA) report on British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic Airways has invited the United Kingdom (UK) mega carriers to receive their testimonies.Both carriers have denied the allegations of shortchanging Nigerian travellers.The carriers were accused of introducing fuel surcharge, a global standard whenever there is rise in the price of oil in the international market.Meanwhile, worried by perceived poor maintenance culture in airports across the nation, Senate President David Mark yesterday tasked airport authorities to ensure proper use and maintenance of the facilities.Mark stated this while flagging off domestic operations at the refurbished Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. .At the event, Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi, pledged that by 2013, all the nation's airports would be of international standard.Mark commended the Minister for the way she handled the recent feud between the BA and Arik Air.The Senate President said: 'What you first use to judge a country is the airport. From the airport you know whether the country is good or bad - the way you are treated and the atmosphere at the airport, the conveniences at the airport, the facilities at the airport, all these give you the very first impression of the country'. .The panel reportedly started its investigation yesterday.Sources said members of the panel were not allowed to talk to the media until the investigation was completed.A British Airways source confirmed the development. The source however declined to make comment, adding that the UK carrier's lawyers were already working with the panel.The NCAA had last Friday constituted an Administrative Appeal Panel to look into its finding and report on the alleged discriminatory air fares and price fixing by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways.The panel, chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge, George Oguntade, is expected to address the UK airlines' challenge of NCAA's finding and subsequent imposition of penalties and a fine of $235 million on them.
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