Nigeria, Canada sign bilateral air service agreement

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Canadian Government on Friday signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) allowing passengers to travel on flights under a different airline’s code.

While signing the agreement in Abuja on behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the development is a significant milestone for the aviation industry.

He explained that the agreement was not a full bilateral agreement, but a code-share agreement, which is an arrangement where two or more airlines market and sell seats on flights operated by another airline, allowing passengers to travel on flights under a different airline’s code.

Keyamo further stated that Nigeria will designate airline operators to enhance this agreement.

The Minister said that the agreement will go a long way in further strengthening the relationship between Canada and Nigeria.

He therefore commended the Canadian authorities for signing the agreement in Nigeria, stating that it will save costs.

On his part, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, expressed excitement over the signing of the agreement.

He said the Canadian Government is ready to always work with Nigeria in strengthening bilateral agreements.

Also at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, while welcoming the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, stated that Nigeria has the highest economic partnership in Africa with Canada.

He stated that the Bilateral Air Services Agreement will be beneficial to both countries.

According to a statement by Odutayo Oluseyi, Head of Press and Public Affairs in the Ministry, code-sharing allows greater access to cities through a given airline’s network without having to offer extra flights, and makes connections simpler by allowing single bookings across multiple flights and airlines.

“Most major airlines today have code-sharing partnerships with other airlines, and code-sharing is a key feature of airline alliances,” the statement noted.

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