We are not pulling out of Nigeria- South African Airways
The management of South African Airways has assured that it will sustain it operations in Nigeria, despite the harsh economic climate which has forced a number of high profile international airlines to quit the country. Instead the airline has been fortifying its investments in the country.
Regional Manager-North, West & Central Africa, Mr. Ohis Ehimiaghe gave this assurance yesterday when he took delivery of its newest aircraft Airbus A330-300 series which will begin operations on December 11, 2016 on its Lagos-Johannesburg route.
Ehimiaghe noted that South Africa Airways which is a leading African airline brand decided to boost it fleets to accommodate the growing need of the Nigerian passengers, adding that the acquisition will boost the airline position in the market and inspire growth for the airline.
” We are not pulling out. We know that Nigerian passengers deserve the best and that is why we are deploying this new aircraft to our Nigerian route. Come rain, come shine, we will continue to operate flights into Nigeria and there is no plan to stop our operations or reduce our frequencies.” Ehimiaghe said.
The new aircraft flew into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos last week Friday.
He said:”We want to pride ourselves as one of the best airlines operating in Nigeria and that is why we are doing all that we can to satisfy our customers. We have been flying into Lagos for the past 20 years and of recent, we have extended to Abuja”
The Regional Manager pointed out that instead of leaving the country, the airline decided to fortify its operations by bringing its newest fleets to the Nigerian market.
Commenting on the challenges facing airlines in the country, Ehimiaghe said that there are four major challenges bedeviling the airline industry in the country including forex, scarcity of aviation fuel, infrastructural decay, and the current economic crisis rocking the nation.
He stressed that in the last few months, there has been no fuel in the country as airlines fly to neighboring countries like Ghana, Kotono to get fuel which has greatly affected the South African Airways in terms of additional cost, noting that most times its Abuja flights fly to Libreville to get fuel.
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