Turkish Airlines has announced it would resume flight operations to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos today after cancelling flights for four days.
This decision was contrary to what the airline and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) agreed on Wednesday; that it would resume flight service the following day in order to airlift stranded passengers some of whom slept at the airport since Tuesday, when the airline’s flight was disrupted by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).
NUATE picketed the airline from Tuesday in protest against the airline’s sack of four Nigerian workers and stopped the airline from operating flights in a three-day show of force, which ended on Wednesday after NCAA waded in.
But in a statement made available to THISDAY and signed by the Communication Department, Turkish Airlines said it would resume the daily scheduled Lagos-Istanbul flight on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
It said that the resumption of the flight was sequel to the assurances of safety to its equipment, personnel and passengers received from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The statement hinted that it had already informed the relevant authorities that it would not be able to return for scheduled flights until Saturday.
Turkish Airlines declared that as long as the NCAA and FAAN took the necessary precautions and maintained the safety of flights, crew, Lagos personnel and passengers at the airport, it would continue to operate with the same sensitivity.
“After evaluating our request and holding meetings, The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) issued a joint press release announcing that additional security measures will be taken to prevent such incidents from occurring again.
“Additionally, the FAAN General Manager shared a written statement with us, committing to taking unprecedented measures to ensure the safety of our operations.”
The airline, however, commended the various authorities for the assurances they provided, maintaining that as one of the most popular airlines in the world, it adhered strictly to the laws and regulations of the countries it operates in.
It also said that it always acts in accordance with international business ethics principles, adding that it would always prioritise the safety and security of its passengers and crew in all its operations.
