Foreign airlines operating in Nigeria have bowed to the pressure from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, directing them to patronise local caterers for meals during their flights.

Since October 2024, the Federal Government has been calling on foreign airlines to patronise local caterers, but the concerned airlines ignored the call.

Later, Keyamo threatened to reject the summer schedules of foreign airlines that refuse to patronise local caterers for outboard meals. Airlines sign this schedule quarterly to secure operations in the country.

The in-flight catering market is valued at $17.8bn as of 2023 and is projected to reach $30.2bn by the end of 2033, according to analysis by Fact.MR.

While stakeholders in the aviation sector hailed the government for the move, outbound passengers had also complained about onboard meals, the majority of which were foreign delicacies.

Already some big airlines have catering units in which they have built their trust over the years.

These airlines’ reluctance to use the catering services from Nigerian caterers has been shutting Nigeria out of the opportunity to tap into the $17.8bn market.

However, Keyamo at a stakeholders meeting last month, declared that flying in and out of Nigeria would be dependent on agreements signed with a local caterer.

He said the foreign airlines could choose to stop flying into Nigeria if they feel they cannot patronise local caterers.

He said, “I will not approve the summer schedule for foreign airlines until they show me an agreement showing they have partnered with our local caterers.


https://punchng.com/foreign-airlines-patronise-local-caterers-after-ministers-threat/