The hitherto challenges and inconveniences Italy bound passengers experience via connecting flights to the European country will soon be eliminated with the commencement of direct flight operations by Italian carrier Neos Airline from Lagos beginning from October 30th.
This is just as the Italian government has disclosed that it is working hard to ensure that its visa processing procedure will not exceed 14 days for Nigerians seeking visa at its embassy.
Until now, Italy based Nigerians and more especially Christian pilgrims who frequent Rome have had to endure the challenges associated with traveling to Italian cities first by connecting their flights to their final destinations from other European cities.
At the weekend, Neos Airline Nigeria based partner and general sales agent, Skye Master, announced the plan to initially begin a weekly flight operations from Lagos for the first month and increase to three by December 2024.
Managing Director of the Sky Master, Princewill Ogbonna, alongside officials of the Italian embassy, Nigeria foreign affairs ministry, ticket sales agents among others described the development as a positive one for the two nations.
The airline, which will be serviced by Sifax Sahco Travels as its official travel agent, Ogbonna disclosed has carefully studied the travelling challenges of Nigerian passengers on the Italy route and is prepared to adjust the flights to suit the taste of passengers and groups bound for Italy.
Ogbonna said “I want to thank the present administration under President Bola Tinubu, he is a great inspiration. This is the second carrier that is commencing direct operations into Nigeria under his watch that is to tell you how focused his administration is in bringing direct investment into the country and we key into that. It is also important to congratulate the Minister of Aviation who is working tirelessly to ensure that Nigeria is opened up for foreign investment.
He discussed that “Neo is currently flying between Milan and Dhaka and they are flying with a 787 and 60 per cent of the traffic going through there are Nigerians. That should tell you that Nigerians are making other people richer while we are treated poorly.
“That is the reason we are starting with a strategic way of flying so we don’t make mistakes. We have designed a strategy by starting with the Boeing 737, once a week, testing the waters and we would be able to encourage people on what we have come to do and by the second month we would increase to three flights a week.”
Speaking of its plans for a special flight for Christian pilgrims he said “For instance, the Christian Association of Nigeria will want to get to Rome and will not want to stop in Milan. We can arrange with our connecting flights to move them directly to Rome via Milan.”
Addressing challenges with travel sales agents in Nigeria, the Sky Master MD explained that “We don’t want mediocre in the system, that is part of the reasons most of the carriers are staying away, we want the realistic travel agencies to be able to sell tickets and also, we want to be sure that the government taxes are remitted to the government purse directly.
“We don’t want where passengers pay taxes and they are not remitted and people come with all manner of technologies in the name of GDS and all that, and at the end of the day airlines are not making their money , government is not getting its fair share and passengers are paying and at the end of the day, nobody is winning and that is why we are robustly pursuing that this system is adopted to be able to encourage the carrier to see their money, government gets its taxes and passengers get their service.”
Also speaking, Italian Consul General in Nigeria, Mr. Ugo Boni highlighted the benefits the resumed direct flight into his country means for businesses, cultural exchange and diplomatic relations.
Boni said “This is a welcome development and I am happy to be here. The Nigeria-Italy relationship will be strengthened. This is long overdue and I hope that we increase the frequency from one to three every week very quickly.
He assured Nigerians seeking visa to Italy that the consul is working hard to reduce the visa processing to two weeks saying “We are also doing our best to put the visa processing between two weeks; at least my business here is not to hinder Nigerians from travelling but to rather make it easier for them.”
On his part, Nigerian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar said commencement of Neos Airline direct trip to Nigeria represent the “official re-launch of the Nigeria-Italy Air links that will help streamline relations between both countries.
Tuggar, represented by the Director of European Affairs Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alex Kefas, commended Sky Master and stakeholders that worked toward ensuring the vision was achieved and said it was a success for the country’s aviation industry.
He said “These companies (Nigeria and Italy) are our Super Ambassadors in their own rights. Their efforts have made our work easier in the Aviation Sector. I believe very soon Nigerians and Italians will start flying to Milan and Lagos, and this hopefully includes other cities.
“I can’t conclude my speech without mentioning the contributions of the Ministries of Aviation and Aerospace Development and other Agencies in both Nigeria and Italy. And of course, the great roles played by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the Italian Ambassador and Consul General in Lagos that worked tirelessly to ensure the Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.”
