February 23, (THEWILL) – The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), has stated that the body objects very seriously, to the multiple designations granted to foreign airlines operating in the country.
The body also noted that, over N20 billion has been lost due to flight delays and cancellations, while about N24 billion was lost due to birdstrike totalling N44 billion in loss last year.
The airline operators, amongst other things also condemned series of attacks on airline staff and facilities at the various airports by passengers over flight delays or cancellations.
Speaking at a press conference organised by AON on Wednesday, Vice President of AON, Barr. Allen Onyema, who informed that the decisions were reached at their last Annual General Meeting (AGM), said their opposition to the multiple designation is directed particularly to that granted to Qatar and Ethiopia Airlines, regretting that such grant will stagnate local operators.
He said that, “if we continue to encourage that, it will continue to deplete national treasury and also deplete the growth of local airlines. The capital flight is unimaginable.”
Listing job loss, capital flight, death of local airlines as part of the outcomes of multiple designations for foreign airlines, Onyema noted that all foreign airlines put together do not provide 10 percent of the jobs provided by the smallest domestic airline in Nigeria.
Onyema, however, informed that no airline operator deliberately delays or cancels flights because the aircraft is meant to be in the air and not on ground.
The operator stated that, “aircraft on ground, which is a huge loss to operators and impacts negatively on the economy of our dear country, is, however, mostly, for safety and so many reasons outside the control of operators. For this reason, AON has been at the front of seeking more effective ways to mitigate factors that cause flight delays and huge economic losses to the country.
He attributed causes of flight delays and cancellations to bad weather, passengers not being aware, lack of adequate check-in counters at airports, lack of aircraft parking space etc.
He equally stated that the local airlines are faced with the challenges of cost of Jet A1, availability of forex, Customs protocol, multiple taxation and charges, sunset airports, inadequate facilities at airports, birdstrike and others.
On the recent increase in airfares, Onyema said “AON never got together to increase airfares. We debunk that insinuation. The N50,000 fare had always been there. During December last year, basic fares were N60,000 to N70,000. Airline didn’t come together to decide that. It is a matter of unit cost per seat which is the basis of increase.”
The conference was attended by the President of AON, Alhaji Yunusa S. Abdulmunaf, Vice President, Barr. Allen Onyema and chief executives of nine other local airline operators, including: Azman Air, Air Peace, Overland, Aero Contractors, Max Air, Dana Air, Arik Air, United Nigeria Airlines, Medview Airlines, Omni Blu etc.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
