THE National Air Transport Association (NATA) has registered its disappointment that the Ogle Airport will be renamed despite its objections. NATA is objecting to the Government’s decision to rename the Ogle Airport as the Eugene F Correia International Airport, on the grounds that such a move will foster an even more anti-competitive climate at the airport.
President David Granger is expected to unveil the new name of the airport on Monday.
“As a responsible, national body we have employed every legitimate means to let Ogle remain Ogle. We engaged every politician possible and trusted the Government’s sincerity when we were asked to work out our differences with the Correia-controlled Ogle Airport Inc. We were therefore shocked to learn that without any discussion with us, the President named May 9 as the date for the renaming,” NATA said in a recent statement.
The Correia Group of Companies, headed by Michael Correia, owns 67% of OAI, but NATA represents approximately 90% of the aviation industry.
On April, 22, 2016, three of NATA’S nine members – Air Services Limited, Roraima Airways Limited and Wings Aviation Limited – applied to the Commercial Division of the High Court for an injunction to be filed against OAI to prevent the renaming of the airport. However, the injunction was subsequently discharged by the Judge in Court on May 3. The association has since appealed the High Court’s decision.
“Our trust and reasonableness have been misinterpreted and we could only resort to the courts for relief. Indeed, at this stage we have matters pending before the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Our plea to the Court of Appeal that it at least hears our appeal, before the Government acts, has not found favour with that court,” the association posited.
NATA said instead of enquiring into the violations of the Lease Agreement, the breaches of basic rules of good governance and abuses by the Correia group over the rest of the operators, the government engages in a misguided renaming that rewards the very group.
“A name change involving 10 aircraft operators, the international aviation community and the general public is serious business. It requires co-ordination and co-operation by all concerned. Every billboard, statutory and other paraphernalia will need to be changed, at costs some of which have to be borne by the government.”
Last September, President David Granger had called on OAI’s Board of Directors to rename the airport in recognition of the contributions made by the late Eugene F. Correia, who had served as the country’s first Minister of Communications, Shipping and Aviation.