Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) on Monday asked the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to restore its approval for commencement of regional flights from the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief Operating Officer, BASL, Capt. Jari Williams, made the request while speaking with newsmen in Lagos during a facility tour of the terminal.

Williams said the request was premised on the huge investment BASL had committed into upgrade of facilities at the terminal for the planned operations.

He said the firm was particularly worried that the NCAA, after giving permission for the commencement of the regional operations, had to withdraw it on two occasions.

“NCAA granted us approval twice to commence regional flights, we went ahead to spend millions of naira in readiness for the operation, only for the NCAA to withdraw approval.

“We are therefore calling on NCAA to restore the approval so that MMA2 can be fully operational,” Williams said.

According to him, the terminal is fully mobilised for regional flight operations, as it has upgraded facilities to ensure that domestic flights do not mix with regional operations.

He faulted claims in some quarters that a terminal such as MMA2 was not supposed to operate regional flights from the same facility where domestic operations take place.

Williams said: “There is no harm in operating regional flights from the same terminal.

“Those saying MMA2 should not handle regional flights because it is running domestic operations should think out of the box.

“Even in Nigeria; in Abuja and Port Harcourt Airports, regional flights and domestic flights are taking place in the same location.

“In other countries including Ghana, even in Europe and United States; such takes place. It is merely adhering to safety of passengers,” he said.

Williams said the right facilitation equipment had been procured to make the operations seamless and they were only waiting for NCAA’s approval.

He said that BASL management had engaged security agencies including Nigerian Immigration Services, Nigerian Customs Services, NDLEA, Department of State Services and others on its readiness for regional flights.

Williams noted that the terminal managers would comply with the Executive Order issued by the Federal Government to facilitate the ease of doing business for arriving foreigners at the terminal. (NAN)