Aviation Minister, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has sent strong words of caution to British Airways (BA) as passenger complaints over treatments they receive from the airline continue to be on the increase.
She said the airliner risks facing some sanction if those complaints were not addressed with utmost urgency.
“If I must be emphatic, you have pushed us to the wall and very soon you will hear from us because we cannot sit down for this to happen continuously.
…it is not cheap to fly on BA because passengers have to pay for premium, besides enjoying monopoly, and for that matter, Ghanaians do not deserve this kind treatment at all,” she told officials of the airline at a meeting in Accra.
The minister’s angry toned comments were in response to reports of bedbugs in some British Airways flights which has become an issue of concern for travelling Ghanaians.
A British Airways flight bound for Kotoka International Airport on Saturday was delayed after the cabin crew reportedly found bedbugs on the aircraft during their checks.
Officials of the airliner have come out to confirm that there were bedbugs on the scheduled aircraft but the one that brought in the passengers was not infested with the insects as they had to change planes, resulting in a delay of flight.
The airline has released a statement 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,” the statement noted.
But according to the aviation minister, the airline will have to do more beyond the explanation and work to repair “their dented image” in the country.
She admonished BA to change its attitude towards Ghanaian passengers for both its inbound and outbound flights.
“We all want the country to be conducive for business; but we will not sit down to be cheated out of our convenience,” she emphasised.
