Constraints To Foreign Airlines’ Operations In Nigeria, By Turkish Airlines

The difficulty in getting flight rights, devaluation of the naira and foreign issues are some of the major factors inhibiting the operations of airlines in Nigeria – especially the foreign carriers, Country Manager for Turkish Airlines in Nigeria, Tarkan Ince, has said Ince, who spoke with WoleshadareNews in Lagos, noted that foreign exchange problem experienced by many foreign carriers operating to Nigeria is causing huge problems to airlines. Converting naira to US dollar and transferring it, he stated, is a big problem in the sector.
He added: “It is either your money is stuck or transferred with great loss. Forex issues have a negative chain reaction. It extends to a point where providing jet fuel for operations becomes a critical matter.”
Ince said that for airlines to survive in Nigeria, they need to reflect on the foreign exchange value on their ticket prices, lamenting that it is very difficult for passengers to cope with added cost to their tickets.

He said scarcity of forex has serious implications on people to buy goods and services, purchase of aviation fuel popularly called Jet A1.
His words: “Let me state that forex issue is really tearing us down. For us to survive as operator, we have to reflect the forex value on our ticket prices but then, it becomes difficult for passengers to cope with that change.
“As Turkish Airlines, we are really doing our best to keep that reflection at the minimum possible. Forex has serious implications on people’s ability to buy goods and get services. A concrete example is, again, the problem being faced in the area of provision of the jet fuel to run our fleet.
It becomes more difficult because any delay in this matter threatens the connecting flights and, as you may be aware, most of our passengers are on connecting flights.”
On how to solve the problem that is threatening the aviation industry, the Turkish Airline chief prescribed what he called the right diagnosis as the first step for effective solution.
He lauded the Nigerian government for putting forth various solutions for forex issues and still continuing to do so, describing it as a wonderful approach.
“Personally, I believe there are other solutions than the Nigerian government can bring into existence depending on the negotiating country, meaning the foreign country has to come in with its own solutions to negotiate and that is where I believe we would have a positive outcome.
“In short, Nigerian government is giving the full constructive support, so, most of the solution is there for us to evaluate and advance.”
Ince said he was less than satisfied with the level of infrastructure and security at the nation’s aerodromes, hinting that infrastructure needs an upgrade within the airports, while security needs to be enhanced.
He recalled that last December, the carrier had a late baggage delivery case in Abuja, which escalated to a point where passengers wanted to take laws into their hands, adding that they managed to find a way and entered into the apron area.
Ince noted that the authorised employees within the airport don’t possess that right, explaining that the area is highly restricted, yet civil people were on tarmac.
“This, indeed, is a big question mark on the security of the airport on international and global scale. Let me state clearly here that I never meant to demean all the handiwork that has been displayed by the Nigerian authorities. That would be an unfair statement. However, for further precautions, I just wanted to point out this fact.”

Wole Shadare