Commenting on the development, the immediate past President, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies, Bernard Bankole, said most travel agents had been out of business for about five months.
Bankole also argued that there was nothing absolutely wrong with the actions by agents who sell tickets for such flights.
He said, “When you are very hungry, if they give you garri, it becomes a suitable food, forget about the ban on international flights.
“For how long are we going to continue like this? Five months and counting, people have been out of business. This is the situation on the ground.”
He said when approvals for such flights come from the Federal Ministry of Aviation after communication with the foreign affairs ministry, people use the opportunity to move passengers into or out of Nigeria, all in a bid to survive.
Bankole insisted that the situation on the ground warranted what was happening, adding that until international flights resume, operators in the downstream aviation sector would continue to seek measures to stay alive.
Charter airlines can operate private charter flights abroad — CEO
The chief executive officer of local charter airline, who spoke on condition of anonymity, argued if people had to pay for evacuation flights, then the flights could be commercialised after meeting the government requirements.
He said, “These are chartered flights. Although international flights have been banned, you can always arrange group charters. That is what they are doing now. This means that they can get special flight permits for one flight and they will sell off all the seats in both directions.
“The airspace is open and international flights have not yet been opened. The government can, however, allow international flights. They call them evacuation flights. Either way you look at it, it is commercial because the people have to pay money.
“But as evacuation flights, the charters have to fulfil some requirements from the government. Technically, it is only scheduled international flights that are banned. Both for domestic and international flights, chartered flights can operate. What that means is that you can apply to the minister to get clearance after which you can operate your flights. That is how it is done.”
