Hi Jagunmolu,
I like your advise about everyone keeping a cool head and hope this doesn't descend into personal attacks and name calling. Just like Surely not, I too have seen the agreement between VK & FGN. Moving to MM2 affects VK more than most, because their flights are scheduled and crewed based on the hub concept. VK doesn't mind other airlines operating from MMIA as well.
Meanwhile... from sunday's daily trust newspaper
We stand by our report –IATA
Written by ....
Sunday, 10 February 2008
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Friday that it stands by its November 2007 report identifying safety hazards at the Murtala Muhammed Airport terminal 2 (MM2).
A spokesperson of IATA, Mr Lorne Riley, said in an e-mail to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the organisation had safety as its top priority.
"IATA submitted a technical report to the Nigerian authorities that identified a number of shortcomings including inadequate jet blast protection in the parking areas in the domestic terminal MM2", Riley wrote.
The IATA spokesperson, who is Manager, Corporate Communications of the association, said the assessment followed a technical mission to Nigeria from November 7 to 8, 2007 when MM2 was visited.
Riley said IATA identified safety hazards in the manoeuvring and parking of aircraft at MM2.
"Safety is our top priority and IATA stands by its report", Riley stated.
He said IATA is willing to re-inspect the MM2 apron and parking areas with the relevant authorities to see if the status had changed since the November visit.
Controversy has trailed the state of MM2 since February 1, after Virgin Nigeria said it was worried about the safety of aircraft at the airport based on an IATA report.
The authenticity of the report has since been in dispute prompting NAN to seek clarification from the body.
Bi-Courtney Services Limited, managers of MM2, had insisted that the airport was safe and fit even for regional operations.
Already, Aero Contractors has slated February 11 to commence regional operations at the airport.
Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has also called on Virgin Nigeria to comply with the federal government’s directive to airlines to relocate to MM2.
NAN recalls that a six-man team from IATA, led by Mr Herman Groenewadd, Manager, IATA safety operations and infrastructure, Africa, visited Nigeria in November last year.
Groenewadd had told newsmen after the inspection, that the team was satisfied but would communicate some grey areas to the affected authorities.