By Milcah Tanimu

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called on Air France-KLM, a French airline, to extend its lower-priced ticket fares to Nigerian travellers, emphasizing the importance of fairness in ticketing practices.

The statement was conveyed through a press release signed by Tunde Moshood, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to Keyamo, on Monday.

It’s noted that more than two years ago, foreign airlines, including Air France-KLM, suspended their low-priced ticket offerings for Nigerian routes due to challenges in accessing ticket revenue, which amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars, within Nigeria.

However, in March, these airlines began to reintroduce their lower-priced fares after the Central Bank of Nigeria finalized the payment of approximately $7 billion in backlogs, including over $700 million in unremitted ticket revenue.

In response to Keyamo’s call, Air France-KLM expressed appreciation for the improved facilities at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, particularly highlighting the enhanced experience at wing E. They also acknowledged the Minister’s leadership in fostering smoother relationships between their team and various aviation regulatory agencies.

The airline further commended Keyamo for his intervention and successful facilitation of fund repatriation, citing the effectiveness of collaborative efforts in overcoming challenges within the aviation sector.

In turn, Keyamo welcomed the Air France-KLM team and expressed gratitude for their visit. He stressed the importance of equitable pricing for Nigerian travellers, urging the airline to consider offering lower-priced ticket fares to ensure parity with fares in neighboring regions.

Keyamo reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to partnering with the travel industry, emphasizing the government’s open-door policy and willingness to collaborate with airlines to enhance travel accessibility and affordability for all Nigerians.

The courtesy visit by Air France-KLM signifies mutual commitment to advancing the aviation sector in Nigeria and sets the stage for future collaborations aimed at delivering exceptional travel experiences to passengers across the nation.