KEY POINTS

• The agreement strengthens aviation ties between Canada and Nigeria.

• Code-sharing allows airlines to sell seats on each other’s flights.

• Passengers will benefit from seamless travel on one ticket.

A code-sharing agreement between the governments of Canada and Nigeria aims to improve aviation industry efficiency.

Governments sign historic code-sharing deal to enhance aviation ties

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo’s special assistant on digital media, Gbenga Saka, made the announcement on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday.

In the airline industry, code-sharing is the practice of two airlines agreeing to sell seats on each other’s flights. According to Keyamo, the deal would improve relations between the two nations.

“With the signing of this significant agreement today, we take our relationship one step further,” Keyamo stated. It has to do with code-sharing, but it’s not a complete bilateral air service agreement. To proceed with this, we shall assign airlines from both sides.

Airlines from both countries to begin operations under agreement

According to Punch, under the agreement, two or more Canadian or Nigerian airlines are permitted to sell tickets on each other’s flights. “We will communicate with our local operators on both sides as the agreement goes into effect today,” Keyamo stated. Some of them have already received approval to run the route, and many have been anticipating this endeavor. They can now begin operations by utilizing the code-sharing agreement.

The agreement was intended to promote an aeronautical cooperation between the two countries, Keyamo continued.

Pasquale Salvaggio, Canada’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, stated that the agreement is a reflection of the two nations’ developing bilateral and commercial relationships as well as their strong people-to-people links.

“Code-sharing is crucial because it enables one airline to sell tickets on a flight run by another airline and place its designator codes on that flight, giving passengers a smooth travel experience on a single ticket,” Salvaggio stated. “This is a step toward improving the efficiency of the process for both passengers and operators.”

The two nations started talking about starting direct flights on July 23, 2024.