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ART kicks over botched Air Peace evacuation mission
Aviation pressure group and think-tank, Aviation Round Table (ART) has kicked against the botched Air Peace Airline evacuation flight for stranded Nigerians in Canada caused by COVID -19 pandemic.
The group in a statement by its spokesman, Olumide Ohunayo said it reject in totality the nebulous safety concerns conveyed by the government of Canada.
ART views the action not only as an unfriendly act but an unwarranted discriminatory and anti- competition acts bordering on avoidable aeropolitics.
His words, “The demand of our common humanity at these challenging times posed by the ravaging COVID- 19 requires the maximum cooperation of all.
“We therefore request our government, especially the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Aviation to stand firm against this discriminatory and unfriendly act. Air Peace remains Nigeria’s flagship duly authorised by Nigeria for the evacuation mission of her distressed citizens in Canada.
In the diplomatic spirit of respect and cooperation among nations, the ART requested that Nigeria should persuade Canada to review her position and bring succour to the stranded Nigerians in her domain.
The Nigeria High Commission in Canada had on Thursday given reasons why the planned evacuation of Nigerians from Canada by Air Peace never came to fruition.
In a letter dated May 20, 2020 with reference: NHT/OTT/ADM.56/1, titled, “Update on the flight postponement” , the Mission explained that it engaged a number of airlines and eventually came up with an arrangement and pricing structure with Air Peace which no other airline was able to match.
It further explained that its public notice of May 12, 2020, the High Commission announced that the Canadian government had expressed reservations concerning the granting of the necessary clearance/landing permit for Air Peace to fly into Canada, due to ‘safety concern’.
After protracted engagement, the Mission said the Canadian Government “Has unfortunately reverted with what appears to be a final refusal. As a result, the Air Peace arrangement is hereby cancelled”.
It hinted that during the negotiation with Air Peace, the issue of refunds was addressed in the event that the flight did not hold due to unforeseen circumstances and as such, everyone will get refunds for their tickets from Air Peace Limited as agreed.
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