Save aviation from distress, NANTA tells FG

The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has called for a state of emergency in the country’s aviation industry with the hope of stemming the rot that has pervaded the sector.

President, NANTA, Bankole Bernard in an interaction with travel journalists in Lagos said if nothing was done; the sector would continue to witness the precarious situation it has found itself.

He noted that Ghana is taking advantage of inconsistent policy by the government to reposition aviation to draw passengers to their sector and by reducing aviation fuel by 20 per cent; a situation that could make foreign airlines and Nigerian carriers take advantage of the situation.

President John Dramani Mahama had recently said the National Petroleum Authority would soon reduce the prices of aviation fuel by 20 per cent to encourage more international airlines to purchase their fuel from Ghana.

He said the agreement was as a result of complaints from most of the international airlines that Ghana’s aviation fuel prices were higher than most of her competitors.

The cost of aviation fuel is relatively expensive in Ghana compared to other economies within the sub region.

Whilst Nigeria and Benin sell a litre of aviation fuel at 2 dollars 30 cents each; Cameroon sells a litre of aviation fuel for 1dollar 94 cents.

Yet in Ghana a litre of aviation fuel costs 3 dollars 14 cents. The development has also been attributed to the imposition of taxes on some petroleum products.

He stated that the problem of the industry first started with inability of foreign airlines to repatriate their over N120 billion trapped in the country, adding that the problem came with a huge cost as they lost 40 per cent of the value of their funds occasioned by the devaluation of Naira.

The inability to take their funds then and the sharp reduction in international travel led to reduction in capacity, forcing carriers to reduce their aircraft size and cutting of their frequencies.

His words, “Emirates had its two daily flights to Lagos from two to one. Iberia and United also left. Just recently, Aero Contractors suspended flights because they have to do maintenance. We don’t know which airline is next. If domestic carriers are closing shop, we will begin to travel by road.”

He berated the government for the decrepit state of the country’s aerodromes, explaining that virtually all the airports are in sorry state.

“Nigerian airports are nothing to write home about. They are in decrepit shape and that is why I maintain that an emergency needs to be declared in aviation to stem the tide.”

This is coming at a time foreign airlines flying into the country have petitioned the Ministry of Transportation over the appalling facilities at virtually all the airports across the country.   

The carriers, which spoke on condition of anonymity because of their safety, called on the Federal Government to look deep into airport terminals around the country in order to give better services to operators, passengers and others users of the facilities.

Sources privy to information on the terminal quoted Gulf Carriers as saying that it pays FAAN N80 million every week for Passenger Service Charge (PSC), while another European carrier pays FAAN N160 million weekly. Cumulatively, the Gulf carrier pays N320 million monthly and the European carrier, N640 million.

The payments include, but not limited to Passenger Service Charge (PSC), jetty (Aerobridge), landing and parking.

The foreign airlines complained that while they sell tickets in naira, FAAN mandates them to pay for their charges in dollars.

Bernard lamented the poor state of Abuja airport runway, saying the facility poses huge risk to airlines.

He explained that recently, South African Airways had its aircraft damaged when it landed on the pot-hole ridden runway, causing inconveniences to passengers, airlines and other users.