FG gives more flight concession to foreign airlines

The Federal Government has promised to give more frequencies to foreign airlines operating into the country that wish to increase its frequency (flight time).

This comes with a proviso as the government said it would be granted as long as the nation’s interests are not compromised.

The disclosure was made by Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, saying it would provide and help to improve the economic and operational viability of the nation’s designated international airports by creating the enabling environment for international airlines operating in Nigeria to use them.

 

The minister who made these promises while receiving the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil in his office, said the nation’s relationship with foreign airlines would be based strictly on the Bilateral Air Services Agreements with the Airline’s home governments.

He informed the Ambassador of Government’s determination to revamp the aviation sector through the concessioning of its airports, beginning with “the big four” in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt. The concession, he said, is to address issues of infrastructure, and ensure world class maintenance.

This however would pose a further threat to Nigerian airlines as granting of more frequencies to foreign airlines could finally kill local airlines that are struggling to survive.

Nigeria has BASA with over 60 nations. While some international airlines are already using their part of the deal, Nigerian airlines are seriously disadvantaged due to lack of finance, weak operational structure and lack of enabling environment to make them prosperous.

Despite the huge potentials, African and particularly Nigerian carriers are playing second fiddle to foreign airlines, which are said to be controlling 80 per cent of the region’s aviation market, leaving the remaining 20 per cent for their Africans counterparts.

This has triggered concern of huge imbalance between the pair. Aviation experts, however, expressed disappointment with the situation, saying it had slowed aviation growth despite Africa’s over one billion population.

To them, the domination of the market by these mega airlines has stunted the growth of aviation in the region.

The experts noted that out of $10 billion annual profit made by foreign airlines from Africa, only 20 per cent of that amount remains with dominant African airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines, Egypt Air, Kenya Airways, Air Maroc, Rwandair, Arik, and Medview among other airlines operating in and out of the continent.

Only Arik and Medview Airlines are just the two airlines from Nigeria operating international flights. The airlines are Arik Air which operates to London, New York and Johannesburg while Medview does London, Jeddah for now with plans to add other destinations.

A former Assistant Secretary General of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mohammed Tukur said the government might have done that to generate foreign revenue going by recession the country is currently facing.

He said Nigeria would reap abundantly from the action while admitting it could affect local airlines.

This imbalance air pact has cost the nation over $5 million monthly but this gap could be narrowed if more airlines from Nigeria increase their capacity to do more international flights.

Sirika commended the cordial relationship that exists between Nigeria and Turkey, and condemned the recent coup attempt in Turkey, describing it as undesirable and anti-development.

The Turkish Ambassador, Hakan Cakil told the Minister that he was in the Ministry to express his country’s gratitude for the excellent relationship between the two countries, especially in the aviation sector, and to explore more areas of cooperation.

He requested, on behalf of the Turkish Airlines for more frequencies in airline’s operations in Nigeria, saying that with the nation’s population and air traffic volume, the request can be granted for mutual benefits.

He also commended the Nigerian government for the show of support for his country during its trying periods, especially the recent attempt by subversive elements to derail the course of democratic governance.

In a related development, the Minister has promised to do whatever it takes to make domestic airlines more competitive with their foreign counterparts in the airlift of Nigerian Christian pilgrims.

Reacting to a request by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Dr Tor Uja during a courtesy visit, Sirika told him that the primary purpose of the ministry was to promote the development of the sector and supporting local airlines to operate in the best possible environment.

He also promised to objectively look into the request for reduction of charges at the airport with a view to seeing how those charges could be adjusted to assist pilgrimage operations.

According to Sirika, Nigeria is blessed to be one of the leading religious countries in the world and  promised to visit the NCPC to see how his Ministry can complement their operations.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Dr. Tor Uja had called on the Federal Government to give adequate support to the local airlines to enable them compete with their foreign counterparts in the airlift of Nigerian Christian pilgrims, saying that the situation where foreign airlines account for almost 100 per cent of pilgrimage operations does not portray the nation well.

According to Uja, “the foreign airlines determine the pricing and operational modalities  and we are helpless because the local airlines are not strong enough to compete with them”.

The NCPC boss also pleaded with the minister to look at how the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other agencies could address the challenges posed by pilgrimage related charges which tend to skyrocket the overall cost of performing the religious obligation.

He suggested a reduction by at least 50 per cent, saying that it will contribute greatly to the reduction of the cost of their operations.

Uja commended the minister for his commitment to developing the nation’s aviation industry and urged him to be the first Minister of Aviation to visit the commission to see how it operates.