FAAN denies charging passengers N2, 000 per bag at MMIA

Aviation Nigeria

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN has denied reports that passengers are being charged N2, 000 per bag on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

According to a statement by the FAAN General Manager Corporate Communications Yakubu Dati, “The charge does not apply to all passengers but to cargo agents who use passenger planes to transport their cargo- often times 20-30 pieces of luggage unaccompanied or accompanied by proxies.

“This fraudulent practice mounts untold pressure on our conveyor belts and short-changes FAAN of its much needed revenue. Cargo agents are well aware that all cargo must go through the designated cargo terminal where they go through laid down processes for safety and security procedures.

“The fact of the matter is that some passengers arrived with cargo which they should have passed as cargo through the cargo terminal and wanted to pass same as mere luggage and FAAN decided to charge them the cargo fee, which is a normal charge that was done with receipts.

Dati also stated that “We wish to stress that it was not the passengers’ luggage that was charged, but the cargo, as affected passengers arrived with average of eight bags of cargo. The passengers should have passed the cargo through the cargo terminal instead of coming with them”.

“It is also important to explain that the charge has always been in FAAN’s books but when the concessionaire, Pan Express Limited was ceded the power to collect cargo charges it was part of the charges the company was collecting but now FAAN has decided to collect the charges and there is no need mixing it up with luggage.

The Authority apologized to passengers who may have been affected by the procedure and also reiterated a warning to cargo agents “to desist from this unwholesome practice or face the full wrath of the law, as no form of blackmail will deter us from carrying out our mandate of providing services at internationally acceptable standards and practices”.

Bi-Courtney introduces free wireless service to MMA2 Terminal.

Sky Watch Nigeria.

As part of its determination to create a unique experience for passengers, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, in conjunction with iWayafrica and MultiChoice Nigeria, has introduced free internet services to passengers travelling through the terminal.

This is even as MMA2 won the Most Efficient Airport Terminal Award of the Transport and Society Weekly newspaper.
Industry stakeholders said the Wi-Fi Hotspot solution at MMA2 will be the first of its kind in any airport terminal in Africa. It will enable users of the terminal access the world while waiting to board their flights.

“We’re really making the travel experience unique. We are the only airport terminal in Africa to offer free Wi-Fi to passengers. We are the only airport in Nigeria with live arrivals and departures on the net (www.mma2lagos.com) and this is just the beginning. When it comes to working, investing and maintaining in the interest of the Nigerian public, we will make sure we remain far ahead. This is just one in the series of face-lifting, multi-million naira projects to be executed shortly at the terminal, which has been enjoying increased patronage in the last few weeks,” a statement issued by BASL said.

According to the statement signed by the company’s spokesman, Steve Omolale-Ajulo, “the first phase of the project has already started from the Final Departure. This is one of the numerous Xmas gifts BASL is giving to its passengers.

“Other locations at the terminal, such as the Food Court, Meeters & Greeters, as well as KFC are to be considered for the facility very soon. More ambitious projects to make MMA2 the best terminal in Africa will be executed in the New Year.”

Meanwhile, the management of the Transport and Society newspaper told the management of BASL at the presentation of the award at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Lagos, that MMA2 won the Most Efficient Airport Terminal Award because of the consistent way it has been maintaining its facilities since inception, adding that the votes to determine the winner were cast by aviation stakeholders.

Responding, the Chief Executive Officer of BASL, Mr. Christophe Penninck, promised that the terminal would always remain the preferred gateway to majority of local air travellers in Nigeria.

The award is coming a few weeks after the newest airline in the country, Med-View Airline, began operations at MMA2 and said its decision to choose the terminal as operational base was informed by its facilities, which BASL promised it would continue to improve upon.