FG’s earnings from $20 aviation security tax in 2017 to hit N37 bn
By the time the year ends, the Federal Government may have generated over $100 million (N37bn) going by the exchange rate of N360 to from $20 security levy collected from little over five million passengers exiting the country through any of the international airports.
A total of 2,505,612 passengers passed through Nigerian airports in the first quarter of 2017, 67.3 per cent of them being domestic passengers, travelling within Nigeria, while the rest were international air traveller entering or exiting the country.
In the second quarter of 2017, overall passenger traffic (domestic and international) increased by 21.06% over the previous quarter but declined by -18.56 per cent year on year. Similarly, aircraft movement increased by 11.23per cent in Q2 2017 over Q1 2017 but declined by -20.40 per cent year on year.
In 2016, 15,232, 597 air travellers went through Nigeria’s airports in 2016. This figure represents both domestic and international passengers.
For 2017 which is yet to be released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), it is projected that little over that number may be recorded due to improvement in the economy.
Reports obtained by Woleshadare.net indicated that between July 1 and September 30, 2017, at least 500,348 passengers exited the country through the five international airports in Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Enugu.
Med-View Airline led the other Nigerian carriers in its security levy to the Federal Government with N158, 994 million, having transported 8,833 passengers in the third quarter of 2017.
The company recently commenced flight operations on the Lagos-Abuja-Dubai route.
The Federal Government introduced $20 security levy for each passenger going out of the country in 2011 to combat insurgency in Nigeria.
The sum is collected on behalf of the government by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Statistics indicated that from the 500,348 passengers, with the levy of $20 each, the government earned $10,696, 000 within the period, which amounted to N3.85bn at the exchange rate of N360 per dollar.
Among the international carriers in the third quarter, only Camair-Co, a Cameroonian carrier, did not earn any amount of money for the Federal Government in the third quarter, having not operated a single flight out of the country within the period.
Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa, and British Airways led the pack of foreign carriers with the highest number of passengers out of the country and who earned revenues for the Federal Government.
The statistics indicated that Ethiopian Airlines ferried 59,536 passengers, earning N1.07 billion for the government; Lufthansa airlifted 40,594, earning N730,692,000, and British Airways transported 38,430 passengers earning N671,740,000 within the period.
The three airlines earned N2, 476,080,000 in security levy, representing 11. 9 percent of the total earning from security levy within the period by the government.
Also, Air France within the period ferried 37,073, thereby earning N667, 314,000; Turkish Air, 32,353 passengers, representing N582,354,000; Emirates with 28,619 passengers at N515,142,000; Virgin Atlantic had 25,992 passengers at N467,856,000, and KLM Airlines airlifted 25,510 passengers, earning N459,180,000 in the third quarter of 2017.
The reports revealed that the sum was earned from 30 out of the 31 airlines carrying out international operations in the country.
Others are Qatar Airways with 24,931 passengers, which was N448,740,000; Egypt Air, 20,528 passengers, earning N369, 504,000; South African Airways, 16,994 passengers, earning N305,892,000; Asky Airlines, 16,887 passengers at N303,996,000; Africa World Airlines, 15,723 passengers with N283,014,000; Royal Air Maroc with 15,612 passengers, representing N281,016,000, and Rwandair with 15,287 passengers, earning N275,166,000.
Also, the giant American carrier, which celebrated its 10th year of flying between Nigeria and the United States, recently, airlifted 14,761 passengers within the period, which increased government’s generation by N265,698,000; Kenya Airways, 12,649 passengers at N227,682,000; Etihad Airways, 12,354 passengers with N222,372,000; Med-View ferried 8,833 passengers, earning N158,994,000, and Max Air airlifted 8,189 passengers in the third quarter, representing N147,402,000 for the government.
Also, Air Cote d’Ivoire carried 7,562 passengers making additional N136,160,000 for the government; Arik Air, with its challenges, airlifted 6,628 passengers in the third quarter, amounting to N119,304,000; Air Peace, which flies to some West Coast countries, carried 4,907 passengers, representing N88,326,000; Middle East ferried 3,404 passengers, which earned N61,272,000, while Sudan Air ferried 2,355 passengers out of Nigeria within the period, contributing N42,390,000, and Meridiana Airline transported 1,705 passengers in the period, which amounted to N30,690 million.
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