Delta Air Lines now sells tickets to Nigerian travelers in Dollars

Delta Air Lines, the sole US carrier flying into Nigeria from its base in Atlanta Georgia, now sells air tickets to air travellers in dollars.

This decision, National Daily gathered, may not be unconnected with foreign airlines trapped funds which have risen to $550 million as of November 30, 2022.

Recall that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has frowned against the sale of air tickets to Nigerian travellers in foreign currency, saying the practice contravenes the country’s policy on air travel.

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Jummy Echelgruen, the airline’s Sales Director for Africa, the Middle East and India, said the airline did not flout any known law or policy in Nigeria, noting that it was part of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) arrangements between the US and Nigeria.

Echelgrue explained that the airline adopted the tactics to further prevent more funds from being trapped in Nigeria which he said was “enough to worry Delta Air Lines.”

According to him, the BASA agreement the United States Government signed with Nigeria allowed it to sell air tickets either in dollars or naira, stressing that the airline had not violated any known law in Nigeria.

He stressed that Delta Air Lines was not contemplating suspending flight services out of Nigeria because of the trapped ticket sales funds, noting that the airline was committed to serving the Nigerian routes. He said:

“With this, we have opened up more inventories allowing for passengers to travel with us, but they need to pay in dollars. We will continue to operate as normal and our load on our flight is still very good.

He was, however, silent on the specific amount of funds Delta Air Lines trapped in Nigeria.