14th December, 2019
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Saturday said the Turkish Airlines would operate with the right size of aircraft to ensure passengers were transported with their baggage.
Capt. Abdullah Sidi, the Acting Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said this after a meeting with the management of Turkish Airlines in Abuja.
Sidi said in a statement issued by Mr Sam Adurogboye, NCAA’s General Manager, Public Relations, that the airline would upgrade from Boeing 737-800 to Airbus A 330 and Boeing 737-900.
“Consequent upon the suspension of Turkish airline’s operations into Nigeria and the meeting between its Management and NCAA Acting Director-General, the airline’s executives have agreed to start immediate freight of all left over passengers’ baggage in Turkey.
“This will be achieved by instantly upgrading from Boeing 737-800 being used and found inadequate to a larger Airbus A 330 and Boeing 737-900.
”The programme of clearance will be carried out from Dec. 13 to Dec. 17.
”NCAA expects strict compliance with the remedial programme,” he said.
Sidi warned all operators to ensure Nigerians were not taken for granted, adding that they should always provide safe, secure and efficient service.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that NCAA in a letter dated Dec.11, with reference number, NCAA/DG/12/16/60, had threatened to suspend Turkish Airline’s operations into Nigeria with effect from Dec 16.
It stated that the suspension would come if the airline failed to deploy the right size of aircraft to the service of Nigerians at all airports in the country.
The threat letter was issued by the regulatory authority to show displeasure over cases of not bringing passengers into Nigeria along with their checked-in-baggage by Turkish airline.