The Bilateral Air Service Agreement is a traffic rights agreement entered into by two sovereign states or countries. It is reciprocal in nature. In the sense that the documents contain the details of the airports for operations in the two countries. It specifies the aircraft type to be deployed by both parties. It specifies the carrier or carriers to utilise the rights, etc. It is an agreement that actually allows air transportation to take place between two countries.Nigeria has entered into about 90 Bilateral Air Service Agreements with 90 countries around the globe. Only about 40 are currently effective and functional, while about fifty are unutilised.However, the number of Bilateral Air Service Agreements entered into by the Federal Government is still growing, as new ones were recently endorsed with the governments of Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Trinidad and Tobago.There is no doubt that issues must be tackled urgently if Nigeria is to begin reaping the benefits of the existing BASAs.The first step is for domestic operators seeking to be designated on international routes to be prepared to invest in modern, long-range aircraft that can compete favourably with foreign airlines operating into the country on the same routes.In addition, Nigerian operators designated on international routes must be ready to join the International Air Transport Association, the umbrella body for the major foreign carriers operating on the international routes. Membership in IATA would enable it to operate through its Clearing House. To be able to join IATA, the first step is for an airline to qualify itself successfully in the IATA Operational Safety Audit and demonstrate willingness to abide by the rules governing IATA members.Related NewsWorld Bank: Africa to drive global workforce growth by 2050$1tn economy: Between ambition and arithmeticNigeria’s stablecoin growth attracts Bitget wallet expansionIt’s upon admission into IATA that Nigerian operators can join the global alliances. The alliance qualifies member airlines’ passengers to travel on other international carriers and have their tickets cleared through the IATA Clearing House.Unfortunately, we have in the past had Nigerian operators thrown out of IATA on account of a breach.Secondly, Nigerian carriers must be prepared to invest money in the development of new routes rather than concentrating on existing routes only. They should avoid the temptation to lay their eggs in one basket. When the defunct Nigeria Airways began flights into Dubai in the early 90s, the initial fee-paying passengers were fewer than 40. I was on one of its earlier flights. But the airline continued the investment until the UAE became a household name, and it began to have full loads under the leadership of Alh Jani Ibrahim. The records are there for verification. There are so many BASAs that are currently not in use but which should be developed and invested in, and returns on investment would follow.Another issue to be tackled to save unending and skyrocketing operational costs is the need for the application of appropriate machines in their respective operations. Machines or aircraft for long-haul should not be used for a one-hour domestic flight.Nigeria stands to gain a lot from the utilisation of all the BASAs. There will be an increase in passengers and cargo movements, leading to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product. All of these would lead to more direct international flights, more trade across countries and continents, a boost to tourism and job creation, as more airport workers would have to be engaged. This is the way to go.Sam Adurogboye is a former General Manager of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Nigeria has entered into about 90 Bilateral Air Service Agreements with 90 countries around the globe. Only about 40 are currently effective and functional, while about fifty are unutilised.However, the number of Bilateral Air Service Agreements entered into by the Federal Government is still growing, as new ones were recently endorsed with the governments of Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Trinidad and Tobago.There is no doubt that issues must be tackled urgently if Nigeria is to begin reaping the benefits of the existing BASAs.The first step is for domestic operators seeking to be designated on international routes to be prepared to invest in modern, long-range aircraft that can compete favourably with foreign airlines operating into the country on the same routes.In addition, Nigerian operators designated on international routes must be ready to join the International Air Transport Association, the umbrella body for the major foreign carriers operating on the international routes. Membership in IATA would enable it to operate through its Clearing House. To be able to join IATA, the first step is for an airline to qualify itself successfully in the IATA Operational Safety Audit and demonstrate willingness to abide by the rules governing IATA members.Related NewsWorld Bank: Africa to drive global workforce growth by 2050$1tn economy: Between ambition and arithmeticNigeria’s stablecoin growth attracts Bitget wallet expansionIt’s upon admission into IATA that Nigerian operators can join the global alliances. The alliance qualifies member airlines’ passengers to travel on other international carriers and have their tickets cleared through the IATA Clearing House.Unfortunately, we have in the past had Nigerian operators thrown out of IATA on account of a breach.Secondly, Nigerian carriers must be prepared to invest money in the development of new routes rather than concentrating on existing routes only. They should avoid the temptation to lay their eggs in one basket. When the defunct Nigeria Airways began flights into Dubai in the early 90s, the initial fee-paying passengers were fewer than 40. I was on one of its earlier flights. But the airline continued the investment until the UAE became a household name, and it began to have full loads under the leadership of Alh Jani Ibrahim. The records are there for verification. There are so many BASAs that are currently not in use but which should be developed and invested in, and returns on investment would follow.Another issue to be tackled to save unending and skyrocketing operational costs is the need for the application of appropriate machines in their respective operations. Machines or aircraft for long-haul should not be used for a one-hour domestic flight.Nigeria stands to gain a lot from the utilisation of all the BASAs. There will be an increase in passengers and cargo movements, leading to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product. All of these would lead to more direct international flights, more trade across countries and continents, a boost to tourism and job creation, as more airport workers would have to be engaged. This is the way to go.Sam Adurogboye is a former General Manager of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority However, the number of Bilateral Air Service Agreements entered into by the Federal Government is still growing, as new ones were recently endorsed with the governments of Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Trinidad and Tobago.There is no doubt that issues must be tackled urgently if Nigeria is to begin reaping the benefits of the existing BASAs.The first step is for domestic operators seeking to be designated on international routes to be prepared to invest in modern, long-range aircraft that can compete favourably with foreign airlines operating into the country on the same routes.In addition, Nigerian operators designated on international routes must be ready to join the International Air Transport Association, the umbrella body for the major foreign carriers operating on the international routes. Membership in IATA would enable it to operate through its Clearing House. To be able to join IATA, the first step is for an airline to qualify itself successfully in the IATA Operational Safety Audit and demonstrate willingness to abide by the rules governing IATA members.Related NewsWorld Bank: Africa to drive global workforce growth by 2050$1tn economy: Between ambition and arithmeticNigeria’s stablecoin growth attracts Bitget wallet expansionIt’s upon admission into IATA that Nigerian operators can join the global alliances. The alliance qualifies member airlines’ passengers to travel on other international carriers and have their tickets cleared through the IATA Clearing House.Unfortunately, we have in the past had Nigerian operators thrown out of IATA on account of a breach.Secondly, Nigerian carriers must be prepared to invest money in the development of new routes rather than concentrating on existing routes only. They should avoid the temptation to lay their eggs in one basket. When the defunct Nigeria Airways began flights into Dubai in the early 90s, the initial fee-paying passengers were fewer than 40. I was on one of its earlier flights. But the airline continued the investment until the UAE became a household name, and it began to have full loads under the leadership of Alh Jani Ibrahim. The records are there for verification. There are so many BASAs that are currently not in use but which should be developed and invested in, and returns on investment would follow.Another issue to be tackled to save unending and skyrocketing operational costs is the need for the application of appropriate machines in their respective operations. Machines or aircraft for long-haul should not be used for a one-hour domestic flight.Nigeria stands to gain a lot from the utilisation of all the BASAs. There will be an increase in passengers and cargo movements, leading to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product. All of these would lead to more direct international flights, more trade across countries and continents, a boost to tourism and job creation, as more airport workers would have to be engaged. This is the way to go.Sam Adurogboye is a former General Manager of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority There is no doubt that issues must be tackled urgently if Nigeria is to begin reaping the benefits of the existing BASAs.The first step is for domestic operators seeking to be designated on international routes to be prepared to invest in modern, long-range aircraft that can compete favourably with foreign airlines operating into the country on the same routes.In addition, Nigerian operators designated on international routes must be ready to join the International Air Transport Association, the umbrella body for the major foreign carriers operating on the international routes. Membership in IATA would enable it to operate through its Clearing House. To be able to join IATA, the first step is for an airline to qualify itself successfully in the IATA Operational Safety Audit and demonstrate willingness to abide by the rules governing IATA members.Related NewsWorld Bank: Africa to drive global workforce growth by 2050$1tn economy: Between ambition and arithmeticNigeria’s stablecoin growth attracts Bitget wallet expansionIt’s upon admission into IATA that Nigerian operators can join the global alliances. The alliance qualifies member airlines’ passengers to travel on other international carriers and have their tickets cleared through the IATA Clearing House.Unfortunately, we have in the past had Nigerian operators thrown out of IATA on account of a breach.Secondly, Nigerian carriers must be prepared to invest money in the development of new routes rather than concentrating on existing routes only. They should avoid the temptation to lay their eggs in one basket. When the defunct Nigeria Airways began flights into Dubai in the early 90s, the initial fee-paying passengers were fewer than 40. I was on one of its earlier flights. But the airline continued the investment until the UAE became a household name, and it began to have full loads under the leadership of Alh Jani Ibrahim. The records are there for verification. There are so many BASAs that are currently not in use but which should be developed and invested in, and returns on investment would follow.Another issue to be tackled to save unending and skyrocketing operational costs is the need for the application of appropriate machines in their respective operations. Machines or aircraft for long-haul should not be used for a one-hour domestic flight.Nigeria stands to gain a lot from the utilisation of all the BASAs. There will be an increase in passengers and cargo movements, leading to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product. All of these would lead to more direct international flights, more trade across countries and continents, a boost to tourism and job creation, as more airport workers would have to be engaged. This is the way to go.Sam Adurogboye is a former General Manager of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority The first step is for domestic operators seeking to be designated on international routes to be prepared to invest in modern, long-range aircraft that can compete favourably with foreign airlines operating into the country on the same routes.In addition, Nigerian operators designated on international routes must be ready to join the International Air Transport Association, the umbrella body for the major foreign carriers operating on the international routes. Membership in IATA would enable it to operate through its Clearing House. To be able to join IATA, the first step is for an airline to qualify itself successfully in the IATA Operational Safety Audit and demonstrate willingness to abide by the rules governing IATA members.Related NewsWorld Bank: Africa to drive global workforce growth by 2050$1tn economy: Between ambition and arithmeticNigeria’s stablecoin growth attracts Bitget wallet expansionIt’s upon admission into IATA that Nigerian operators can join the global alliances. The alliance qualifies member airlines’ passengers to travel on other international carriers and have their tickets cleared through the IATA Clearing House.Unfortunately, we have in the past had Nigerian operators thrown out of IATA on account of a breach.Secondly, Nigerian carriers must be prepared to invest money in the development of new routes rather than concentrating on existing routes only. They should avoid the temptation to lay their eggs in one basket. When the defunct Nigeria Airways began flights into Dubai in the early 90s, the initial fee-paying passengers were fewer than 40. I was on one of its earlier flights. But the airline continued the investment until the UAE became a household name, and it began to have full loads under the leadership of Alh Jani Ibrahim. The records are there for verification. There are so many BASAs that are currently not in use but which should be developed and invested in, and returns on investment would follow.Another issue to be tackled to save unending and skyrocketing operational costs is the need for the application of appropriate machines in their respective operations. Machines or aircraft for long-haul should not be used for a one-hour domestic flight.Nigeria stands to gain a lot from the utilisation of all the BASAs. There will be an increase in passengers and cargo movements, leading to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product. All of these would lead to more direct international flights, more trade across countries and continents, a boost to tourism and job creation, as more airport workers would have to be engaged. This is the way to go.Sam Adurogboye is a former General Manager of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority In addition, Nigerian operators designated on international routes must be ready to join the International Air Transport Association, the umbrella body for the major foreign carriers operating on the international routes. Membership in IATA would enable it to operate through its Clearing House. To be able to join IATA, the first step is for an airline to qualify itself successfully in the IATA Operational Safety Audit and demonstrate willingness to abide by the rules governing IATA members.Related NewsWorld Bank: Africa to drive global workforce growth by 2050$1tn economy: Between ambition and arithmeticNigeria’s stablecoin growth attracts Bitget wallet expansionIt’s upon admission into IATA that Nigerian operators can join the global alliances. The alliance qualifies member airlines’ passengers to travel on other international carriers and have their tickets cleared through the IATA Clearing House.Unfortunately, we have in the past had Nigerian operators thrown out of IATA on account of a breach.Secondly, Nigerian carriers must be prepared to invest money in the development of new routes rather than concentrating on existing routes only. They should avoid the temptation to lay their eggs in one basket. When the defunct Nigeria Airways began flights into Dubai in the early 90s, the initial fee-paying passengers were fewer than 40. I was on one of its earlier flights. But the airline continued the investment until the UAE became a household name, and it began to have full loads under the leadership of Alh Jani Ibrahim. The records are there for verification. There are so many BASAs that are currently not in use but which should be developed and invested in, and returns on investment would follow.Another issue to be tackled to save unending and skyrocketing operational costs is the need for the application of appropriate machines in their respective operations. Machines or aircraft for long-haul should not be used for a one-hour domestic flight.Nigeria stands to gain a lot from the utilisation of all the BASAs. There will be an increase in passengers and cargo movements, leading to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product. All of these would lead to more direct international flights, more trade across countries and continents, a boost to tourism and job creation, as more airport workers would have to be engaged. This is the way to go.Sam Adurogboye is a former General Manager of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority It’s upon admission into IATA that Nigerian operators can join the global alliances. The alliance qualifies member airlines’ passengers to travel on other international carriers and have their tickets cleared through the IATA Clearing House.Unfortunately, we have in the past had Nigerian operators thrown out of IATA on account of a breach.Secondly, Nigerian carriers must be prepared to invest money in the development of new routes rather than concentrating on existing routes only. They should avoid the temptation to lay their eggs in one basket. When the defunct Nigeria Airways began flights into Dubai in the early 90s, the initial fee-paying passengers were fewer than 40. I was on one of its earlier flights. But the airline continued the investment until the UAE became a household name, and it began to have full loads under the leadership of Alh Jani Ibrahim. The records are there for verification. There are so many BASAs that are currently not in use but which should be developed and invested in, and returns on investment would follow.Another issue to be tackled to save unending and skyrocketing operational costs is the need for the application of appropriate machines in their respective operations. Machines or aircraft for long-haul should not be used for a one-hour domestic flight.Nigeria stands to gain a lot from the utilisation of all the BASAs. There will be an increase in passengers and cargo movements, leading to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product. All of these would lead to more direct international flights, more trade across countries and continents, a boost to tourism and job creation, as more airport workers would have to be engaged. This is the way to go.Sam Adurogboye is a former General Manager of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Unfortunately, we have in the past had Nigerian operators thrown out of IATA on account of a breach.Secondly, Nigerian carriers must be prepared to invest money in the development of new routes rather than concentrating on existing routes only. They should avoid the temptation to lay their eggs in one basket. When the defunct Nigeria Airways began flights into Dubai in the early 90s, the initial fee-paying passengers were fewer than 40. I was on one of its earlier flights. But the airline continued the investment until the UAE became a household name, and it began to have full loads under the leadership of Alh Jani Ibrahim. The records are there for verification. There are so many BASAs that are currently not in use but which should be developed and invested in, and returns on investment would follow.Another issue to be tackled to save unending and skyrocketing operational costs is the need for the application of appropriate machines in their respective operations. Machines or aircraft for long-haul should not be used for a one-hour domestic flight.Nigeria stands to gain a lot from the utilisation of all the BASAs. There will be an increase in passengers and cargo movements, leading to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product. All of these would lead to more direct international flights, more trade across countries and continents, a boost to tourism and job creation, as more airport workers would have to be engaged. This is the way to go.Sam Adurogboye is a former General Manager of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Secondly, Nigerian carriers must be prepared to invest money in the development of new routes rather than concentrating on existing routes only. They should avoid the temptation to lay their eggs in one basket. When the defunct Nigeria Airways began flights into Dubai in the early 90s, the initial fee-paying passengers were fewer than 40. I was on one of its earlier flights. But the airline continued the investment until the UAE became a household name, and it began to have full loads under the leadership of Alh Jani Ibrahim. The records are there for verification. There are so many BASAs that are currently not in use but which should be developed and invested in, and returns on investment would follow.Another issue to be tackled to save unending and skyrocketing operational costs is the need for the application of appropriate machines in their respective operations. Machines or aircraft for long-haul should not be used for a one-hour domestic flight.Nigeria stands to gain a lot from the utilisation of all the BASAs. There will be an increase in passengers and cargo movements, leading to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product. All of these would lead to more direct international flights, more trade across countries and continents, a boost to tourism and job creation, as more airport workers would have to be engaged. This is the way to go.Sam Adurogboye is a former General Manager of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Another issue to be tackled to save unending and skyrocketing operational costs is the need for the application of appropriate machines in their respective operations. Machines or aircraft for long-haul should not be used for a one-hour domestic flight.Nigeria stands to gain a lot from the utilisation of all the BASAs. There will be an increase in passengers and cargo movements, leading to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product. All of these would lead to more direct international flights, more trade across countries and continents, a boost to tourism and job creation, as more airport workers would have to be engaged. This is the way to go.Sam Adurogboye is a former General Manager of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Nigeria stands to gain a lot from the utilisation of all the BASAs. There will be an increase in passengers and cargo movements, leading to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product. All of these would lead to more direct international flights, more trade across countries and continents, a boost to tourism and job creation, as more airport workers would have to be engaged. This is the way to go.Sam Adurogboye is a former General Manager of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Sam Adurogboye is a former General Manager of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority