Chariman of Bi- Courtney Aviation Services Limited Dr Wale Babalakin yesterday canvassed zoning of airports as a template for their concession.

He broke the airports zonal structure into Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

Babalakin said without the injection of private capital, the airports were programmed to be ineffective.

He said with the enabling environment, the airports could be turned around in the next 30 months.

Babalakin spoke at a meeting in Lagos organised by industry think tank group Aviation Round Table Safety Initiative.
He said Bi- Courtney Aviation Services Limited signed an agreement to operate regional flights from the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, Lagos, and was awaiting approval from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA).

Babalakin said the clarification became imperative because of insinuations that the firm wanted to commence operations for regional flights without approval.

The chairman of Bi- Courtney explained that the NCAA was invited to inspect the terminal and that the regulatory body gave conditions that to be met by the terminal before it could commence regional flights from the facility.

Babalakin said: “Approval was not given, we signed an agreement to operate regional flights. NCAA was invited to inspect the facility and gave conditions that must be met and these conditions have been fulfilled and we are waiting for the implementation.”

He condemned attempts by FAAN to take over its hotel opposite the MMA2 , insisting that a fresh agreement was signed to enable work resume at the site.

The chairman stated that serous airport development could only take place under a well articulated concessioning system.

Babalakin noted that airport development could only manifest in the aviation sector, when Nigerians harnessed the country’s potential.

He said for the industry to develop, the rule of law must be followed, adding that a situation where concession agreements were violated, was discouraging.