Yemisi Izuora
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA has disclosed that domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria sold tickets worth N505.2 billion in 2017.
The Director-General, DG, of NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman made the disclosure at the Quarterly Business Breakfast Meeting of the Aviation Round Table (ART), themed, “Evaluation of Safety and Security Performance of Aviation Agencies in the last four years”, in Lagos.
Usman, represented by Abdullahi, the Director, Consumer Complaints Directorate, NCAA, said the ticket sales increased by 14.2 per cent (N82.7 billion) compared to the N422.4 billion sold in 2016.
According to him, the eight domestic airlines sold N93.6 billion worth of tickets, while the 32 airlines on the international routes sold tickets worth N411.6 billion during the period under review.
He said the amount realized from the sale of tickets would have been higher if not for the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for six weeks to enable the government rehabilitate its runway.
“A stable forex regime, effective implementation of the Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business as well as the resumption of flight activities to the Maiduguri Airport, earlier closed due to insecurity, contributed to the increase.’’
The DG, said that an average of 25,528 passengers presently pass through the 21 airports in the country daily in 305 flights.
On sanctions, he said that NCAA had enforced 90 from 2014, till date, adding that the regulatory agency would continue to ensure the safety of the Nigerian airspace which had recorded its third consecutive year of zero accident.
The NCAA, has also concluded plan to review its regulations which would stipulate new conditions for start-up airlines.
The new rule would nullify two aircraft airlines and widen the scope to include that new airlines must have more than two airplanes at entry level, according to Usman.
The implication of the review would ensure that new entrants no longer present two airplanes as minimum entry requirement. There are indications that new entrants may have to present between four and more airplanes before the aviation regulatory body can issue Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to the would-be operator aside meeting other requirements that qualifies them to get the all important certificate.
The aviation regulatory body which admitted that the public was concerned about two aircraft operators disclosed that the review became necessary in view of the fact that airlines’ operations are hampered seriously if one of the airplanes in the fleet of two aircraft owners goes for mandatory check, leaving the airline with just one airplanes which it said is not too good for safety.
President, ART, Mr. Gabriel Olowo said the country could no longer parade anaemic airlines which at inception are obvious they they lack all it takes to succeed.
His words, “The regulation should be reviewed to ensure that start-up airlines must go beyond two aircraft. This regulation existed many years ago which must be changed to reflect the new reality we are in. This would make for a healthy industry and eliminate some of the problems we are going through with sustenance of airline operations in the country. We can’t continue to parade anaemic airlines”
Olowo, said there was the need for aviation agencies to set up Key Performance Index (KPI) to measure their achievements from time to time.
He stated that the group would continue to ensure the advancement of the industry by consistently promoting safety and professionalism through effective working relationship with government and other stakeholders.
Also, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Saleh Dunoma, said the Airports Council International had certified Lagos and Abuja airports worthy for maximum operations.
Dunoma, who was represented by Mr Elikwe Agbi, the General Manager, Safety Services, FAAN, said the agency was already working with the Council to certify the Kano and Port Harcourt airports.
“We have started the process of certifying these airports following the success we recorded in Lagos and Abuja. Enugu and Kaduna airports will follow subsequently.’’