Local airlines will soon start flying directly to South America, says Keyamo

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation, says the country is looking to commence direct flight operations to South America. 

The minister made this known on Saturday during an interview with the statehouse media.  

On March 20, Air Peace, Nigeria’s flag carrier, commenced its Lagos-London flight services.

Keyamo said more indigenous airlines would soon commence flight operations to other routes. 

“We are looking at the American route, we are looking at the South American route,” he said.

“They are not even flying the South American route at all but something is in the offering for us to start that route now so as to help the Nigerian flying public to bring down their prices.”

He said this is one aspect of helping local airline to enforce Bilateral aviation safety agreement (BASA).

According to th minister, this will also ensure “you tell the countries that this is our flag carriers, present them as your flag carriers and so they respect them as Nigeria’s representative not as just private businesses in Nigeria”. 

Speaking further, Keyamo said in the 2024 budget, there is provision for a master plan for the ministry.  

The master plan, he said, is not to redesign the terminal buildings at airports but to modify the electropolis. 

Keyamo said it would be done in all airports, starting with the five international airports.