Stranded Turkish Airline passengers airlifted, hotel denies eviction

Golden Tulip Hotel, Apapa has reacted to reports that it ejected stranded Turkish Airline passengers out of the hotel, saying the hotel, rather than eject them, ‘took great care of them during the time of their say in the hotel.”

A statement signed by the Rooms Division Manager of Golden Tulip, Mr. Paul Okojie, said the hotel did not eject its Turkish Airlines’ passengers  and had no reason to do so for “one of its most valuable clients.”

He was reacting to media reports on the ejection of several of its customers’ last week from the facility leading to protests before they were reportedly re-admitted.

Some of the frustrated passengers had gone to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos to sort out their flight arrangement with the hope of departing Lagos for their different destinations. They were however left disappointed when they were told that the carrier would not operate because of the terrible weather condition in Europe, especially in Istanbul where it was harshest.

They had been in the country for days and became agitated when it dawned on them that they would not be carried for the fourth day running. Many of them ran out of money and basic provisions.

On returning to the hotel, they met restrictions that prevented them from gaining access to their rooms. The quick intervention of the airline saved the day as the passengers were re-admitted to the hotel.

According to Okojie, “We were bewildered to read the reports in some newspapers. Let me state clearly that those reports were absolutely wrong and false, as we took care of the passengers lodging in our hotel providing them with befitting accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner. We also lodged the crew and Turkish Airlines staffers came regularly to visit the lodging passengers.”

“The intent of the journalists who published the story remain unclear, as the hotel management was not contacted by the journalists to confirm their reports before going to press. This is totally unfair and unprofessional, as the flight disruption affected all Turkish Airlines passengers heading for Instanbul, where the airline was experiencing bad weather.”

He explained that the hotel has a very solid and one of the most outstanding partnerships since inception with Turkish Airlines, stressing that they did not have any reason to eject their client’s passengers.

He further stated that the passengers were 232 and came in batches through Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th January, 2017, “This is contrary to rumor as reported by some newspapers that the passengers were totaling 410”.

“As a matter of fact our sellable rooms in the hotel including those already being occupied by existing customers are 345. So, where do we get extra rooms to lodge 410 rooms?” he queried.

He stated that what Turkish Airlines has done by keeping its passengers in a hotel due to the bad weather in Europe until it could guarantee their safety to be flown was within international standards as prescribed in the aviation industry.

Okojie reiterated the hotel commitment to an enduring working relationship with Turkish Airlines, which he described as one of the most patronised airlines in Nigeria as a result of its affordability and high focus on safety.

He disclosed that so far, most of the passengers have been air-lifted and only about 30 of them were still with them in the hotel and they are expected to be flown out of Lagos by January 14, 2017.

It will be recalled that, Turkish Airlines could not pick passengers to their destinations via Istanbul on January 7, citing weather condition in Europe, especially in Istanbul and this affected its passengers leading to lodging them in hotels in Lagos.

He further hinted that Turkey is facing the harshest snow in 10 years which affected all flights coming into Instanbul, as the ‘heavy snow’ of 1.2 meter above sea level, has resulted in loss of lives.

Wole Shadare