Nigerian govt confirms Turkish Airlines’ compliance barely 24hrs after NCAA threat

Turkish Airlines has flown a bigger aircraft to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in compliance with a new directive.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) ordered the airline to suspend its operations until it was ready to operate with the right size of aircraft that can transport all passengers with their baggage at the same time.

In a letter to the airline, NCAA expressed serious displeasure over the incidents, NCAA which it said had been going on for over two weeks.

The NCAA had said the airline would not be allowed to operate in Nigeria from December 16 if it did not meet set regulations.

In a Twitter post on Saturday, Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, revealed that the airline had complied with its directive.

“Turkish Air operated A330 to Abuja today as against the small B737 in apparent response to our suspension order, we needed not to get to this,” the minister said.

READ ALSO: Nigerian govt grounds Turkish Airlines

The NCAA DG had earlier said recent flights operated by the airline left behind the baggage of about 85% of the passengers on board.

“Our airport authority has been facing serious crises controlling the passengers at the airport whenever they arrive without their baggage. This issue has made passengers carry out several mob actions at our airport and it is a great threat to our airport facilities,” he said.

“In view of all these, and a series of meetings held with the Turkish Airlines personnel, which did not yield any solution to this problem, the NCAA is therefore left with no option than to direct Turkish Airlines to suspend its operations into Nigeria until such a time when the airline is ready to operate with the right size of aircraft that can transport all passengers with their baggage at the same time.”

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