Following the airport reopening August 27, there have been high expectations in the Nigerian aviation industry. Domestic flights began on August 27 and key players in the industry knew that it was only a matter of time before international flights will commence.
As expected international flights resumed in Nigeria on September 5 with strict conditions to ensure that COVID-19 does not spread due to airport reopening. But not all airlines will be allowed into Nigeria.
Nigeria’s minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, reportedly said that Nigeria will not let airlines and citizens of countries that barred Nigerians with tourists’ visas during the pandemic to enter the country.
Some countries had prohibited citizens of Nigeria and airlines from Nigeria from entering their country, fearing COVID-19 transmission. The Nigerian government is now retaliating by banning some of the countries affected. CGTN reports that 8 airlines were affected by the ban and they include; TAAG Angola, Royal Air Maroc, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, KLM Royal Dutch, Air France, Air Namibia, and Rwand Air.
Nigeria has the largest population in Africa with an estimated 200 million people. Its large population has also made it a large market for manufacturers and producers around the world.
Large markets attract investors and promote international trade hence the many foreign airlines operating international flights in Nigeria. The temporal shut down of the aviation sector as a result of COVID-19 brought many economic activities to a standstill.
Airlines were counting losses as the industry was in comatose for many months. As both national and international flight resumes, signaling the reopening of airports, efforts will be made to ensure that the spread of COVID-19 does not cause another shut down for the industry.
Passengers will be required to present a COVID-19 test certificate to be able to travel both nationally and internationally. But for now, the banned airlines cannot operate in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy.
