Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal two (MMA2) has debunked insinuation that businesses are closing shops at the terminal.
The company in a rejoinder to a media report titled, “Concessionaires flee MMA2” published by a national daily (not Daily Trust) said the report was not reflective of the progress being made at the terminal.
In a statement by Ayotunde Osowe of the Corporate Communications unit of the company, Bicourtney explained that 85 per cent of spaces at the terminal are currently occupied.
This, it added, was in spite of the recession which has hit every sector of the country’s economy.
It said, “Suffice it to say that the impact of the current recession has been evident in the closure of businesses in practically all sectors of the economy including the aviation industry. In spite of this, the fact remains that the management of BASL has been able to carve a niche for itself by consistently maintaining best practices, both in terms of passenger facilitation and provision of all necessary support to keep businesses in the terminal open.
“Unfortunately, this report does not in any way reflect the true position of things, as he did not indicate for balance, how many new businesses have opened in the terminal during the same period. In any case, new businesses will always come and go, but renovation and improvement remains a constant commitment to us at MMA2”.
Bicourtney asserted that the terminal would witness more expansion in businesses in 2017, disclosing that it is presently working with a multinational company to provide a new experience in the Food Court which will be unveiled early in 2017.
“The plan is part of the efforts of the management to revamp the entire Food Court axis of the Terminal to make it more appealing and comfortable for our esteemed guests”, it added.
The statement read further: “In fact, we make bold to reaffirm the commitment of management of the MMA2 terminal towards continuously making the terminal a destination of choice and assisting our vendors to mitigate the impact of the recession in various ways in order for the flying public to have a variety of choices and a pleasant experience while passing through the terminal.
“It should also be noted that the available spaces for businesses at the MMA2 terminal continue to be in high demand from various customers due to the strategic location advantage.
“This is why more than 85 per cent of the available space is presently occupied. Businesses currently operating at the terminal include a shopping mall and many top brands in various sectors such as financial institutions, retailers, and food vendors”.