Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has urged Air France-KLM, a French airline, to offer lower-priced ticket fares to Nigerian travelers, stressing the importance of fairness in ticket pricing. This call was made known in a press statement issued by Tunde Moshood, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to Keyamo, on Monday.
According to reports from PUNCH, more than two years ago, several foreign airlines, including Air France-KLM, suspended their lower-priced ticket offerings for Nigerian routes due to difficulties accessing ticket revenue amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in Nigeria. However, in March, these airlines began reinstating their lower-priced fares following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s resolution of a backlog of approximately $7 billion, which included over $700 million in unremitted ticket revenue.
The statement highlighted that during a meeting, Air France-KLM acknowledged the improved facilities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, particularly noting enhancements at wing E. They also expressed appreciation for the Minister’s efforts in fostering a smoother relationship between their team and various aviation regulatory agencies.
In addition, Air France-KLM announced the introduction of their new Airbus A330/A350 aircraft, emphasizing their commitment to deploying modern and improved aircraft services on Nigerian routes to enhance the journey experience for travelers.
The Minister welcomed the Air France-KLM team and thanked them for their visit. He stressed the importance of fair pricing for Nigerian travelers, urging the airline to consider offering lower-priced ticket fares to align with fares in neighboring regions.
Keyamo reiterated Nigeria’s dedication to collaborating with the travel industry to enhance travel accessibility and affordability for Nigerians, emphasizing the government’s open-door policy and willingness to work with airlines.
The courtesy visit by Air France-KLM demonstrates the mutual commitment to advancing Nigeria’s aviation sector and lays the foundation for future collaborations aimed at providing exceptional travel experiences for passengers nationwide.
