Aviation Minister mad at British Airways over bed bugs aboard planes

Business News of Friday, 19 January 2018

Source: ghanaguardian.com

2018-01-19

Cecilia Dapaah 33play videoAviation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah

The Aviation Minister, Cecelia Dapaah has cautioned the British Airways to improve their services to the people of Ghana.

She made the statement threatening that the Airline Service will be sanctioned if they fail to comply with the demands being served them after receiving reports about bed bugs on board some of the planes that serve passengers in the country.

“From your own staff to walk away from it because they felt threatened by the bed bugs is not good enough,” she told the airline officials at a meeting Thursday.

The comments from the Minister and her expressions has followed reports by The Sun Newspaper a British Airways flight bound to Accra was grounded at London’s Heathrow Airport for four hours after bed bugs were found crawling on the seats.

The Minister requested the Airlines to grant an assurance and also explanation over the fact that the incident will not repeat again.

The crew on board took off few minutes before the realized the infestation on the plane on Sunday.

Related: BA crew boycott bedbugs-infested plane headed for Ghana shortly before takeoff

On Thursday, the airline issued a release explaining that “the presence of bed bugs is an issue faced occasionally by hotels and airlines all over the world.

“British Airways operates more than 280,000 flights on 280 routes every year, and reports of bed bugs on board are extremely rare. Nevertheless, we are vigilant and continually monitor our aircraft.

“The comfort of our customers is a top priority and a specialist team took immediate steps to resolve this issue.”

This, Mrs Dapaah, said is unacceptable and very disheartening that the airline which has enjoyed a monopoly of a direct flight from Accra to London over the years will subject Ghanaians to such a treatment.

She said Ghanaians have also been complaining about being moved from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 at Heathrow which is frustrating for them.

“Again, I’ve had figures and I don’t know why we pay so much for our direct flight vis-à-vis our Nigerian neighbours,” the Minister said.

Nigerians pay around £900 from Heathrow to Lagos, their Ghanaian counterparts pay around £1300.

Regarding luggage allowance, Madam Dapaah said she has received complaints that Nigerians were favoured with more space than Ghanaians.

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