Nigeria and the United Kingdom have agreed to begin the process of amending their Bilateral Air Services Agreement to reflect evolving trends in international air travel and strengthen cooperation between both countries.

This was made known in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.

Moshood said the two countries reached the agreement during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development by top executives of British Airways led by Alan Campbell and Moran Birger.

According to the statement, the meeting, which was held in Abuja on Monday, focused on “improving bilateral aviation ties and addressing operational matters.”

A notable subject of discussion was the urgent need to update the BASA to support mutual growth, ensure fair competition, and expand opportunities for both British and Nigerian carriers.

Both parties emphasised the importance of modernising the agreement to accommodate recent developments in the global aviation industry.

The British Airways delegation reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to Nigeria, highlighting its 90-year presence in the country and plans to mark the milestone in 2026.

The minister’s aide also added that discussions also touched on enhancing passenger experience and maintaining uninterrupted operations during the ongoing upgrades at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Keyamo praised British Airways for its longstanding service and reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to creating a conducive operating environment for all stakeholders in the aviation sector.