Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, yesterday requested a transit visa resolution to the current imbroglio Nigerians suffer from flying on Turkish Airlines. Additionally, Keyamo emphasized the need for the airline to respect Nigerian passengers.
During their meeting, Keyamo made two more requests to the Turkish Airlines delegation. These included aircraft upgrades and support for local catering. The Minister asked for an upgrade of the aircraft used for flights to Nigeria. Furthermore, he sought transit visa resolution which is causing Nigerians to be stranded in Istanbul. Keyamo also advised the airline to support local caterers by serving Nigerian cuisine on return journeys.
He assured the high-level delegation that there would be no further disruptions to their operations. He stated, “Given that the matter is currently before an industrial court, it will no longer happen.”
However, he critiqued the airline’s communication strategy during the union actions, attributing the issues to the attitude of the Country Manager. Keyamo noted, “I had to advise your authorities to issue a press statement to calm troubled nerves.”
In response, the Turkish Airlines delegation expressed gratitude for his intervention during the recent union actions that disrupted their operations.
Vice President in Charge of Africa, Hilemet Mesut Turkseven, thanked the Minister for his support. He reiterated the airline’s commitment to Nigeria, highlighting their 18 years of operations since 2006.
Turkseven praised Nigerians for their unwavering support and emphasized Turkish Airlines’ dedication to cooperating with the Nigerian government and its agencies to foster further growth in the country.
