Minister of Aviation and Space Development Festus Keyamo has called on Turkish Airlines to address transit visa issues affecting Nigerian passengers.
Keyamo voiced his requests on May 29 during a visit from a Turkish Airlines delegation led by Deputy General Manager for Africa, Hilemet Türkseven, at his office in Abuja. Also present at the meeting were Lagos General Manager Lokman Balkan, Abuja General Manager Akın Carleal, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Turkish Embassy, İmdat Karakoç.
Transit Visa Issue and Flight Improvements
The minister presented three main requests to the Turkish Airlines team:
- Transit Visa Issue: Keyamo emphasized the urgent need to resolve the transit visa problem that has caused Nigerians to be stranded in Istanbul.
- Improvement in Aircraft Quality: He requested improvements in the quality of aircraft used for flights to Nigeria.
- Support for Local Cuisine: He urged the airline to support local food companies by serving Nigerian cuisine on return flights.
Keyamo also critiqued the airline’s communication strategy during union actions, attributing problems to the attitudes of country managers. He assured there would be no further disruptions in flight operations, noting the issue is currently before an industrial court.
Commitments from Turkish Airlines
The Turkish Airlines delegation conveyed greetings from CEO Bilal Ekşi and thanked Minister Keyamo for his interventions during union actions. The airline’s vice president reiterated Turkish Airlines’ commitment to Nigeria, highlighting their 18 years of service since commencing operations in 2006. Karakoç promised the minister to discuss the issues with Turkish authorities and implement necessary adjustments.
Recent Incidents and Developments
On May 22, Turkish Airlines announced the dismissal of seven Nigerian workers for violating various ticket reservation rules and causing economic loss to the airline. In response, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) directed its members to protest against the airline in Lagos state on May 20. The protest disrupted flight operations scheduled for May 21, leaving 300 passengers stranded. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) threatened to impose heavy penalties on Turkish Airlines for alleged mistreatment of Nigerian passengers. On May 24, Turkish Airlines announced the resumption of flight operations to Nigeria starting May 25.
© www.aerohaber.com | www.tr.aerohaber.com
Note: Aviation news on our news site cannot be used without citing the sourc
