Month: April 2008

Breaking News:U.K. group to blacklist BA over ill-treatment

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From the Nigerian Guardian Newspaper: Tuesday 29 April 2008.

Following the outcry generated by the inhumane treatment meted to some Nigerians aboard a British Airways (BA) flight last month, the foremost African charity campaigning against the abuse of African children in the United Kingdom, Africans Unite Against Child Abuse (AFRUCA), has said it will never allow its staff to fly on any BA flights, until the airline stops the ill-treatment of deportees on its flights.

Speaking to The Guardian on Tuesday, AFRUCA’s Director, Debbie Ariyo said: “Even though we don’t use BA often and do not usually spend more than �5,000 flying with them every year, but they will never get anything from us again.” Ariyo also stated that AFRUCA would encourage its partners and supporters to take a similar stand. “We’re targeting only 60 people and even if it’s just a little, we will deny BA of that money.” In a separate press statement, AFRUCA also highlighted the plight of deportees who were trafficked away from their countries.

For more information, visit the Guardian Newspaper on wednesday 30th April.

UK Group to blacklist BA

3 217 Nigerians Unite against British Airways on Facebook

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By Adeola Aderounmu.

More than 3, 800 Nigerians have signed a petition on the Nigerian Village Square to protest the maltreatment of Nigerians on a BA Flight on March 27 2008.

see link here

On Facebook , More than 2, 300 Nigerians have joined the group calling for a life-time boycott of BA Flights. Some individuals have suggested that BA should not be allowed to fly on the London-Lagos route for at least 1 year.

THE WORST AIRPORTS IN THE WORLD

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THE WORST AIRPORTS IN THE WORLD

BY ANDERS FALKIRK, METRO NEWSPAPER, Stockholm-Sweden. Monday 28 April, 2008



Six Scary examples from Newark to Delhi



The METRO newspaper made a list of the 6 worst airports around the world.

HEATHROW TERMINAL 5: WORST FOR BAGGAGE HANDLING

Since the inauguration at the end of March 2008, Terminal 5 had set a new record for dysfunctionality. Nothing is working and baggage handling is the worst of all the unpalatable situations. Imagine sending 19 000 bags and luggage to Milano for sorting!!!

THE MOST AWFUL/HORRIBLE LANDING: GIBRALTAR AIRPORT, GILBRATAR

Very short runway for landing

THE MOST CHAOTIC AIRPORT: INDIRA GANDHI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, NEW DELHI

This terminal stinks! Poor hygiene and extremely jam-packed. It reminds you of an iron-smelting company of the 1800 centuries.

THE MOST “UN-NICE” AIRPORT IN THE WORLD-NEWARK INTERNATIONAL, NEW JERSEY

The passport control here is terrible. The passport and immigration workers do not smile. They are just not nice to you. Don’t stand on the wrong queue at this airport!

THE MOST HAPHAZARD AIRPORT IN THE WORLD (BAD STRUCTURAL PLANNING)-CHARLES DE GAULLE, PARIS
The signs at this airport will eventually get you lost. They are confusing. The food is expensive and it takes a day’s journey to walk from one terminal to the next.

THE AIRPORT WITH THE WORST TAX-FREE SHOPS- ARLANDA, STOCKHOLM
There are very few shops at Arlanda airport. Even SEVERAL local airports are better than ARLANDA in terms of shops and shopping comfort.

(Metro, Stockholm)

Nigerian Govt gives British Airways Ultimatum

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From The Nigeria Village Square

FG Declares War On British Airways

[Shola Adekola, Lagos – 25.04.2008 ]

The British carrier, British Airways, is in trouble as the Federal Government’s hammer may fall on it over the bad treatment it meted out to about 130 Nigerian passengers on board one of its flights in London Heathrow Airport on March 27. The indication came on Thursday when the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, summoned the airline management the issue.

At the meeting, the British carrier was asked to behave well in treating Nigerian passengers or get sanctioned by the Federal Government.

The foreign carrier was also given between now and next Monday to furnish the director-general with information on its compensation plan for the affected passengers.

Besides this, the airline was asked to give full details on the March 27 incident and also give detailed operation with regard to flight schedule, its actual arrival and departures in the last six months.

Other offences the airline was accused of by Nigerian passengers and across the globe include baggage delays, flights cancellation, overbooking, among others.

Leading the BA officers to the meeting was one Mr Tunji Seymour,Peku Willie Emretane. The NCAA boss at the meeting frowned on the absence of the European staff of the airline who work in the airline’s office in Nigeria at the meeting.

The airline had in its reaction attributed its behaviour to the attitude of the Nigerian passengers, which it claimed, could pose security risk.