Minister of aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, says food will no longer be served on domestic flights when operations resume.

Speaking on Monday at the daily briefing of the presidential task force on Covid-19, Sirika said the decision is part of efforts to control the spread of novel coronavirus on flights.

“For this domestic operation, there will be no food. No food will be given to reduce contamination level and we will allow you to come with your mask,” he said.

“Like  MD of FAAN had said the other day, we see it as your private thing. So you'd have to bring your mask, they don’t have to be the fancy ones.”

Explaining how cabin crew came into existence, Sirika said: “Remember I told you on this platform that the cabin crew’s job is not to offer you tea.

“They came into the industry because of people who were getting air-sick, so we thought we should be putting nurses in the airplane to look after those people.

“Since then, they metamorphosed and they became something new, such that they want to now give you tea, coffee, food, drinks and so on,  since many people don’t get sick  anymore.

“So the main purpose of the cabin staff is to ensure that you all remain safe for your welfare and your health.”

Airline operators in the country including Mr Allen Onyeama, Air Peace CEO, and Mr Ado Sanusi, Aero Contractors CEO, had earlier said their airlines would no longer serve refreshments.

This, they said, would reduce contact between cabin crew and passengers.

They also said it would reduce the frequency with which flyers would remove their face masks.

Domestic flights will resume at the Lagos and Abuja airports on July 8.

The Cable