INDUSTRY think-tank group, Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative (ART) has registered its displeasure at the botched Air Peace Airline evacuation flight for stranded Nigerians in Canada due to the prevalent global lockdown caused by the Corona Virus (COVID -19) pandemic.
The group said it rejected the tenuous safety concerns put up as a reason by the Canadian government to cancel that flight stating that the act was unfriendly act and an unwarranted discriminatory and anti- competition act bordering on avoidable aeropolitics during a time of a global pandemic.
Statement signed for ART by Mr. Olumide Ohunayo read,â€We reject in totality the nebulous safety concerns conveyed by the government of Canada. ART views this action not only as an unfriendly act but an unwarranted discriminatory and anti- competition acts bordering on avoidable aeropolitics.
“The demand of our common humanity at these challenging times posed by the ravaging COVID- 19 requires the maximum cooperation of all.
“We therefore request our government, especially the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Aviation to stand firm against this discriminatory and unfriendly act. Air Peace remains Nigeria’s flagship duly authorized by Nigeria for the evacuation mission of her distressed citizens in Canada.
“In the diplomatic spirit of respect and cooperation among nations, the ART requests that Nigeria should persuade Canada to review her position and bring succor to the stranded Nigerians in her domain,” the statement read.
Recall on May 20, 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Nigerian High Commission, Ottawa announced in a letter with reference number NHS/OTT/ADM.56/I that the Canadian government has with finality refused Nigerian carrier, Air Peace Limited the right to evacuate Nigerian. Read Also: Canadian Government refuses Air Peace right to airlift stranded Nigerians
Also recall Nigerianflightdeck had reported before that that the Canadian High Commission hatched a plan to deter Air Peace flight right and position Ethiopia Airlines to operate the evacuation of Nigerians from the North American country at a higher fare.
It was also reported that the Canadian High Commission opened talks with Ethiopia Airlines, directing that Nigerian passengers should pay $2,500 to Ethiopian Airlines; while Air Peace charged $1,134 and 319 passengers have paid to the Nigerian airline, which has concluded plans to operate full flight to the North American country.
The directive from the Canada High Commission had at that time asked the would-be passengers to pay for Flight ET3900 from Lagos to Addis-Ababa that would depart from Lagos by 1:00 pm Nigerian time on May 18, 2020.
