The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • Operators fault Sirika on N516b debts

    Operators fault Sirika on N516b debts

    Are airlines owing aviation agencies and some companies  N516 billion on fees,levies and navigational charges? This is the nut to be cracked as operators refuted the claim of Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika that they are owing that amount.

    They asked Sirika to prove the allegation with verifiable facts.

    In an interview, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) Chairman Captain Nogie Meggison said Sirika’s labelling of Nigerian carriers as weak and unfit to take advantage of the Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM) was a  disservice to them.

    Meggison accused the minister of reeling out figures without proof, adding that the agencies lacked the ability to “transparently record their revenues and document accurately the debts owed them by the airlines”.

    He said: “We have always asked them to list the debts. It is easy to call numbers. Let those we owe bring their bills and explain the debts. Although government cannot be held responsible for the operation of privately owned airlines, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is competing with airlines, running two airlines with tax payers’ funds.

    “ So, we don’t have a level playing ground because AMCON is a competitor, using the taxes we pay to compete with us. When are they going to leave the airline industry?

    “Airline business is not a cash business. You accrue the charges, you are presented a bill and you pay. So, there is no airline in this world that does not owe.”

    The AON chief he said for the SAATM to work, Africa Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) must provide a level playing field.

    Part of the conditions, he said, was the introduction of uniform airport and navigational charges by African countries.

    He said: “In Nigeria an airline borrows money at 24 per cent interest rate, pay five per cent to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and also pays another five per cent value added tax but these are waived by government of other countries for their own airlines.”

    Former Vice-Chairman of Arik Air  Senator Anietie Okon  berated Sirika for labelling Nigerian airlines as debtors.

    He said the airlines were not owing N516 billion.

    If the airlines are not doing well as alleged by the minister, it is his responsibility and that of the government to ensure that airlines improve their operations,he said.

    Okon said the minister should evaluate the assets of an airline and calculate the percentage of debts to the airline before saying such an airline went under, when there was a preconceived plan to take over such an airline.

    He said: “If the total debts of an airline are just 10 per cent of its assets how can you say that the company is insolvent?”

    Okon said because of airlines’ critical role in the economy, governments should support them, whether they carriers are owned by government or private investors.

    He cited how airlines, such as  Jet Airways of India, Kenya Airways, South Africa Airways and Emirates, which had financial issues and were buoyed by their governments to sustain their operations.

    Okon said: “If all airlines in Nigeria are not doing well, what is the minister doing about it?

    “The minister is running down those that committed their huge resources to run the airline industry. You know the airlines are subjected to multiple taxation.

    “You know that airlines cannot fly to over 18 airports in the country after 6pm because there are not enough facilities and you are saying that the government is not responsible for most of the problems of the airlines.

    “We took the trouble to invest and you keep on throwing  figures, possibly to amuse youself because you don’t know that your management style is crumbling people’s investment.”

    On the liberalisation of Africa’s airspace, Okon said while other countries adopted policies to protect their airlines, even as signatories to SAATM, Nigeria allowed its own airspace for all comers.  Nigerian airlines, he noted, are shut out of other African countries with exorbitant charges and other restrictive policiies.

  • Dana Air decorates pilots as captains

    Dana Air has decorated two captains and three senior first officers at a ceremony held at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two ( MMA2), Ikeja, Lagos.

    While Kalu Sylvester and Ibrahim Kazeem were decorated captains, Ilesanmi Ayotunde, Afolabi Damilola and Lawal Wahab were made flight officers.

    Dana’s Director of Flight Operations Capt. Segun Omole said the airline trained 27 pilots last year, adding that 17 co-pilots, 16 captains and nine first flight officers were undergoing training.

    Omole, who enjoined the pilots to fly safely and legally in line with the tenets of the profession, said the new officers were like fresh university graduates and stressed the need for “catching them young.”

    “This is just the beginning, the tenets of our operations is to fly the aircraft safely and legally. If it is not legal then it is not safe and if it is not safe it is not legal.

    “When our aircraft first came we had to use a foreign crew because not many Nigerians were trained on the MD-83s. We knew that we would have to transit to local crew and from 20 per cent Nigerian crew working in Dana at the begining, we can now boast of a 90 per cent Nigerian crew.

    “There are some risks in training but Dana continues to train. We still have some more pilots in training and maybe in a few months from now, we may have more decorations.

    “Most of our pilots are trained locally in Ilorin or at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT); some were trained in South Africa and the UK.

    “In flight operations department, we have continued to bring new ones from the graduate school. When you catch them young, you can mould them.

    “We want all our pilots to come in as first officers, grow with us and move to become captains. We will still employ captains from outside in the future but it will be the last resort,” he said.

    On the training and employment of female pilots, Omole said the airline was open to signing them on.

    “There is one already on training. I have found that female pilots are more manageable. There are many female pilots and we will bring them in. The ones who attended interview were hired but we lost them to other airlines,” he added.

    Responding on behalf of the pilots, Kalu thanked the airline and pledged that they would do their utmost to maintain the airline’s standard.

    “We will do our best as ambassadors of Dana Air. We will fly as safely as we can,”  he added.

  • ‘We are regularising our operations with NCAA’

    An aviation ground handling company, Precision Aviation Handling Company Limited (PAHCOL) and its partner, Aviation Handling Services (AHS) International have suspended ground handling operations at the Lagos and Abuja airports.

    Investigations revealed that the  suspension is to allow the firm to regularise its documentation with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    The regularisation is to clear the air on the allegation that it has been engaging in illegal ground handling operations for Air Cote D’ Ivoire last week at Lagos Airport.

    Investigations revealed that the NCAA may give it a clean bill of health, if it is satisfied with its explanations.

    In an interview in Lagos, Director, AHS, Sam Oluwole, denied reports that the firm and its partners carried out illegal ground handling operations at the Lagos Airport.

    He said one of its partners, Menzies Aviation, used the equipment it sourced within the industry to facilitate the operations.

    Oluwole said some competitors petitioned the NCAA that it was carrying out unauthorised operations.

    He said: “According to NCAA, Menzies Aviation has not obtained a ground handling licence to operate in Nigeria. That is correct. However, our company is not Menzies Aviation but AHS Nigeria Limited. Menzies Aviation is solely providing support to AHS Nigeria Limited with regard to ground handling operating standards and procedure.

    “So, for anybody to say that on February 7, 2018 Menzies Aviation handled a flight at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) is false. Menzies Aviation did not handle any flight on that day. It was handled by AHS Nigeria Limited, which was made up of PAHCOL and AHS International.

    “That aspect of it is what we are  talking with NCAA. But we are yet to get official notification of what and what they want us to do to regularise the situation.“

    On the way out, he said: “We have to find a way round this whole thing in the interest of the country and make sure that the situation is regularised.

    “Out of respect for them, out of respect for constiaken decision to suspend our operations even without official notification. We expected the official letter to come in this week.

    “We have suspended the operations to show that whatever act of omission that had taken place is not intended to embarrass NCAA or to slight the authorities.”

     

  • Ethiopian Academy graduates 14 aircraft maintenance technicians

    Ethiopian Academy graduates 14 aircraft maintenance technicians

    Ethiopian Aviation Academy (EAA) has graduated 14 aircraft technicians from Nigeria, Tanzania and Cote D’Ivoire.

    The technicians  completed classroom and on-the-job training on the Q-400 and Boeing  aircraft . The training was for six months.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director, EAA,  Solomon Debede said: “As part of our pan-African Airline, the aviation academy needs to build skilled man power in the African continent. Today’s trainees are models for this objective. I also believe that the training they attended would be contributing positively towards their performances as they return back home.”

    The trainees have extended their gratitude to the Academy for the professional service rendered to them.

    Ethiopian Aviation Academy  said it expects to receive more trainees from these countries and others in Africa .

    Meanwhile, the airline said it has signed an agreement  with Guinea Airlines, for strategic partnership in management, maintenance and training at Ethiopian headquarters.

    Ethiopian Group Chief Executive Officer,  Tewolde GebreMariam,  Cheick Dem, from Guinea Airlines and Guinea’s Minister for Transport,  Oyé Guilavogui signed the agreement in the presence the Minister and Strategic Adviser to the President, Ansoumane Condé.

    Others include: Ambassador of Guinea in Addis Ababa,  Sidibé Fatoumata Kaba, the Director General Guinea Civil Aviation,  Mamady Kaba and Ethiopian Executive Management members.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony,  Tewolde said : “As part of our Vision 2025 and with a view to enable African airlines to regain market share for travel, we are establishing strategic partnerships with many African countries.

    ” This partnership is in line with the recently launched African Single Air Transport Market at the African Union Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa.

    ” We are partnering with Guinea Airlines and other African countries because we have the capacity and the expertise to support our African brothers and sisters in the aviation sector. I appreciate the speed with which we reached an agreement with Guinea Airlines thanks to the support of President Alpha Condé.

    “This is a trilateral partnership with Guinea, ASKY Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines with a view to fill the air connectivity vacuum in domestic Guinea market and between the Mano River countries. The time has come for Africans to join hands as one and reclaim our rightful place in the global aviation industry.”

  • Firm unveils platform to address gaps in travel

    Firm unveils platform to address gaps in travel

    A new platform flyamco.com has promised to address challenges faced by travellers and other service users.

    Chief Executive Officer, Amco Travel  and Tours Limited Ahmed Mohammed Sani, disclosed this at the launch of the platform in Abuja.

    Besides  improving customer experience in travel services, Sani said the platform  will offer Nigerians technology-based solutions in addressing challenges in the  industry.

    The platform, Sani said, provides a window for passengers to book flights and hotel reservations at discounted rates with quality services.

    Sani decried the poor services customers get in the country, especially in the aviation and hospitality sector.

    The new platform, he assured will provide customers with top quality travel and tour services in compliance with the highest international standards.

    He said:  “Flyamco.com was carefully designed to provide travel related information and cost effective customer care and is amongst the highest of our priorities and we are on our toes to accomplish this task at any hour

    Sani said customers would be provided a 24 hours service for greater convenience of e-travellers and tourists as part of measures to boost tourism.

    He said: “We have been in the sector for about a decade.  We have been at the fore front promoting travel and tourism in Nigeria. We have prioritised comfort and quality services and have built trust in the market.

    “We have been operating charter flights for pilgrims, especially Umrah and Hajj.  We explore new frontiers daily and our next option for Nigeria is to leverage technology to address challenges in the sector and offer a seamless experience that will boost our aviation and tourism sector.”

    According to him, the firm not only assist clients to facilitate air fares, but also provide hotel accommodation, travel insurance and visa procurement.

    The firm , Sani said, also  provides car rental services, airport hotel transfers and cruises around the world,organise local and international conferences, facilitate student visas across the world, especially in United States, Ukraine, Cyprus and Dubai as well as work out tailor-made packages for customers.

    “In the spirit of tourism development and promotion in Nigeria, we have packaged several tourism and leisure services across Nigeria and indeed West Africa.

    “This is aimed at promoting the unity and understanding of the various cultures, ecology, integration of our people and appreciation of the tourism potentials of Nigeria and indeed West Africa,” Sani said.

     

  • Max Air to begin domestic flights

    Max Air to begin domestic flights

    Max Air Limited plans to start domestic flights to

    ease the hardship being encountered by passengers.

    Addressing reporters in Kano last week, the carrier’s Media Officer  Ibrahim Dahiru said the airline has acquired three more aircraft for domestic operations.

    The new 130 seater Boeing 737-500 aircraft, Dahiru said, will assist the airline to boost flights from its base in Kano.

    Max Air set up since 2007, he said, has operated as an international charter airline concentrating mainly on the yearly Hajj and Umrah airlift.

    The airline, he said, has engaged in international charter flights using  seven  Boeing 747 aircraft.

    He said in the last 11 years, Max Air has flown over 500,000 passengers as pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

    The airline was engaged by the government to air lift refugees from Libya.

    Dahiru said the coming of Max Air into the domestic  market  would resolved challenges experienced by passengers.

  • Dana Air opens Owerri office

    Dana Air opens Owerri office

    DANA Air has opened an office in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    The office, according its Corporate Communications Manager, Kingsley Ezenwa, is to enable the airline  consolidate its partnership with Imo State government.

    An aircraft belonging the state is managed by Dana Air with the registered call sign IMO Air.

    Last month, the airline unveiled sponsorship deals worth millions of Naira with Nigerian professional football league covering Akwa united of Akwa Ibom State and Heartland Football Club of Imo State.

    Under this deal, Dana Air will get branding opportunities for the duration of the season and fly the team to all its away matches in the 2018 NPFL season.

    Also as part of the deal, the club’s player of the month initiative will be sponsored by Dana Air  with a largess from the airline.

    The airline is the only domestic airline to undertake such initiative like  global carriers including Emirate, Ethiad and Qatar Airways.

  • Fed Govt steps up efforts to improve airport security

    Fed Govt steps up efforts to improve airport security

    THe Federal Government has evolved new measures to improve security at airports.

    Part of the measures is the deployment of surveillance and intelligence equipment at critical areas of the airports, including runways, taxiways and the apron.

    Investigations by The Nation revealed that an image capture network, including Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, is being deployed in the airside to monitor workers.

    The government, it was learnt, also sent some officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other agencies to some airports in the Middle East to study the procedure for the deployment of intelligence equipment.

    Workers in the airside and other areas classified as vulnerable spots are being profiled.

    Also being profiled are FAAN workers and their colleagues who provide ancillary services.

    A source hinted that the measures were part of the redesign of the security architecture to forestall the pilferage of bags on taxiing business jets on the runway of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

    Experts said without security and perimeter fencing at many of the major airports, trespassers, miscreants and bandits could gain access to the airside.

    FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, said the authority had begun the evacuation of abandoned planes at airports, including the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    She said the removal of such disused aircraft would pave the way for the authority to install airside surveillance equipment.

    The authority, she said, had begun the installation of CCTV at strategic locations around the airport airside to forestall  poaching.

    Investigations  revealed that over 13 abandoned aircraft have been evacuated from the airport.

    She said:“As far as security around airports is concerned series of steps are being taken. In our redesign of airport security architecture, we have commenced the removal of abandoned aircraft at the Lagos Airport airside.

    “The reason for this is to make sure such abandoned aircraft is not used by unauthorised persons to do whatever they want.”

    She said FAAN has embarked on grass cutting at the airside to ensure improved safety.

    She said FAAN has also procured some airside patrol vehicles to monitor aircraft as they taxi to the runway for take off.

    Yakubu said: “What we had in the past was that the ‘Follow Me’ vehicle, which  used to be in the front of aircraft.

    “But, we have decided to reverse the order. The vehicles are now at the back of the aircraft to ensure that the aircraft go to parking bay without any incident or aircraft poaching.”

  • Row over adoption of single African air transport market 

    Row over adoption of single African air transport market 

    African leaders’nod for a single air transport market for the continent seems to be giving Nigerian carriers the goose bumps.They argue that the policy can push them out of business, KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports

    Eighteen years after its ground work, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), otherwise known  as African Open Skies, has finally taken off.

    But indigenous carriers are kicking against it. They asked the Federal Government not to be in a hurry to endorse the treaty.

    Citing poor preparation and unfavourable policy in the operating environment, they said the policy could affect their profit margins, if implemented.

    Nigeria is one of the 23 African countries that have okayed the policy expected to address the challenges of intra-African connectivity and other issues affecting air transport on the continent.

    The others are Benin, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Capo Verde, Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Togo and Zimbabwe.

    The endorsement came on the heels of an agreement signed in 1999 in Yamoussoukro, Cote d ‘Ivoire for a single airspace for Africa.

    Known as  the Yamoussoukro Decision  (YD), it  was adopted on November  14, 1999, to liberalise access to air transport markets in Africa.To drive the implementation of the policy, the African Union (AU) appointed the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).

    AFCAC ‘s position 

    AFCAC Secretary-General Ms. Iyabo Sosina described the policy as good for Africa. She called on stakeholders to collaborate to achieve the policy’s objectives.

    She said though some Nigerian operators  opposed the policy, it was too late to stop it.

    Sosina said the market would bring about more competition for airlines, enhance economies of scale and aircraft utilisation. She said airlines,airports and air navigation service providers would benefit the most from the full implementation of the policy.

    Apart from AFCAC, other organisations, including African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) have pushed for the implementation of the market in Africa.

    IATA’s position 

    IATA’s Regional Director , Member/External Affairs, Africa and Middle East, Adefunke Adeyemi, said there were many benefits to be derived from the policy. She said IATA, a few years ago, carried out a 12-country study on the policy, which indicated economic benefits of $1.3 billion and 155,000 more jobs through air liberalisation in Africa.

    She said: “Industry also needs to work with African governments to recognise aviation’s strategic importance for development objectives across Africa. States should remove and or reduce all financial, operational, policy and regulatory barriers hindering the growth of air connectivity across Africa.

    “Good regulatory practices should be engendered by ensuring coherent national and regional policies to support sustainable development of aviation and adopted across Africa. Countries should support public awareness on YD and the SAATM and develop masterplans for infrastructure development. Partnerships remain key to unlocking the potential in Africa and Nigeria to ensure the benefits can be realised.”

    Ministerial position 

    Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said Nigeria was committed to the full implementation of the SAATM. According to him, Africa must leverage the immense potential offered by SAATM and the YD to enhance traffic connectivity and growth in passenger traffic in future.

    Sirika said: “We must all, therefore, strive to commit to the full implementation and operationalisation of SAATM. We need to leap forward to become an effective global competitor in aviation.”

    NCAA’s position 

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Director-General, Captain Mukhtar Usman,  said the importance of SAATM to African aviation could not be over-emphasised.

    Usman said the NCAA had domesticated its regulations in line with SAATM provisions.

    What AON says

    The umbrella body of indigenous carriers, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), rejected the policy.

    Its Executive Chairman, Captain Nogie Meggison, called on the government not to be in a hurry to implement the policy.

    He raised concerns on how adversely the SAATM would affect its members, appealing to the Federal Government not to go ahead with the full implementation of the SAATM. Meggison argued that though the idea may be noble on paper, there was a need for the government not to lose sight of the dangers it portends for the economy.

    Meggison said: “We are concerned that the timing is not right as there are several unresolved issues and challenges being faced by the Nigerian aviation that will ultimately undermine the perceived gains of this treaty that might be an illusion for our beloved country.

    “AON considers it as unfair and a complete disconnect that Nigerian airlines which are the fulcrum of the implementation of SAATM in the country were not carried along in the decision process leading up to the signing of a treaty and firm commitment to the process, which will, ultimately, affect the future aviation of Nigeria in many years to come and the survival of our airlines.

    “Nigeria is simply not ready to handle the level of unfair competition that the full implementation of SAATM will bring upon the country. A full implementation at this time will lead to disaster.”

    He continued: ”The basic issue of free movement of people and trade is an integral aspect of the declaration that will go a long way to determine the fairness of the SAATM project.

    “Sadly, it is a well-known fact that Nigerians require over 34 visas to travel within Africa alone. This is an issue that first needs to be addressed before opening the skies. Another is unclear and constantly-changing policies that throw out Nigerian airlines into red. The government should come out with a clear policy that will position airlines to take full advantage of the open skies.’’

    Meggison said another problem was high bank interest rate of 28 per cent  compared to access to cheap funds provided and guaranteed by the government of most African carriers at a maximum of two per cent.

    “Nigerian airlines pay Value Added Tax (VAT) while most African carriers do not pay in their various countries as well as in Nigeria.This is already a deficit of five per cent on a small margin industry from the start for Nigerian airlines.

    “Airlines in Nigeria don’t have access to forex. We only get allocation per percentage of our bids, which takes an average of six months. Most of the African carriers are subsidised and being funded by their government.

    “Nigerian airlines are at a disadvantage to other African airlines that are largely government-owned and heavily subsidised.

    “Nigerian airlines are subjected to multiple charges, taxes, levies and fees. On the average, we pay about 37 different charges that come under the guise of statutory levies and taxes to sustain a staff strength of about 18,000 of the various government agencies compared to most African carriers who pay a fraction in their countries to support a staff strength of less than 500.

    “The charges around Africa are not uniform across board. The government should ensure all the taxes are uniform before the implementation of the open skies. For instance, when we fly to some African countries, they charge us heavy landing fees in excess of $5,000 – $6,000. The same countries subsidise their local operators who pay $200 for the same service. But when they fly into Nigeria they pay a mere $500, the same as our local carriers.

    “Airlines in Nigeria pay high prices for JetA1 due to high taxes compared to some  countries where VAT and taxes in JetA1 have been abolished to their local carriers and some of them have local production of subsidised fuel,” Meggison said.

    Aviation RoundTable ‘s position

    Industry think tank group – Aviation RoundTable Safety Initiative (ART) – led by its President, Mr Gbenga Olowo –  agreed with AON. It called on the government to rethink the policy.

    In a statement, the ART said it supported indigenous carriers’ position. It added that Nigeria needed strong carriers to reap the  benefits of SAATM.

    Olowo said though the AON had a valid argument, operators should address the problems confronting the sector.

    According to him, Nigeria, the airlines and the economy will remain disadvantaged as long as stakeholders lack the will to evolve strong players in the sector.

    Olowo said:  ”Africa will not continue to wait for Nigeria when the rest of the world is progressing with open skies and free market economies just because Nigeria airlines and its business environment inhibit evolution of strong carriers.

    ”The truth is that the International Civil Aviation Organisation and International Air Transport Association are pushing for it with  other strong economic partners of Nigeria and it will happen sooner than later.“

    Stakeholder’s  perspective

    Former spokesman of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited, Mr Chris Aligbe, urged domestic operators to close ranks rather than condemn everything about African open skies.

    According to Aligbe, AON members should not capitalise on their lamentations to frustrate the implementation of a policy that has come to stay.

    He urged the operators to look inwards and put their house in order as it was too late to stop a move train.

    Aligbe said the operators should watch out for stronger carriers that would set up feeder airlines to build regional hubs within the continent.

  • Why passenger traffic dropped in 2017, by NCAA

    Why passenger traffic dropped in 2017, by NCAA

    TheRE was a drop in the number of passengers who travelled through Nigerian airports in 2017 compared to 2016, statistics from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have revealed.

    According to NCAA,  inbound, passengers on domestic routes were 3,780,576 and outbound, 3,865,499.

    Inbound and outbound passenger traffic in 2016 were 4,024,387 and 4,171,191.

    The authority said international airlines in the same year recorded 1,750,184 in-bound passengers while out-bound passengers on international flights were 1,825,358.

    The 2017 figures represent a decline compared with inbound passengers for 2016,which was 1,952,657 while outbound figure  was 2,011,705.

    In an interview, NCAA Consumer Protection Director Adamu Abdullahi attributed the decrease to the exit of Arik Air from some international and regional operations.

    Arik Air last year suspended flights on its Lagos-London, New York, Johannesburg and Dubai routes.

    The airline also suspended operations on some routes in West and Central Africa.

    Apart from the suspension of flights on international routes by Arik Air, Abdulahi said the streamlining of the airline’s operations on some routes after its take- over by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) also contributed to the decrease in passenger traffic.

    According to him, the  decrease in passenger traffic last year affected the number of complaints  received by the Consumer Protection Directorate of the NCAA

    He put the number of flights operated by  foreign carriers at 13,503  while domestic routes’  was put at 48,319 for 2017.

    Abdulahi said carriers on international routes operated 15,465 flights in 2016 with domestic carriers figures put at 54,682.

    The NCAA director said the authority in 2017 received complaints from 200 passengers on international flights while complaints by passengers on domestic flights stood at 78.

    He said while 30 carriers operated on international routes, the number of domestic carriers remained eight.

    Abdulahi said: “One of the major players in the international scene, which is Arik Air stopped international operations after it was taken over by AMCOM in 2016; throughout 2017, they did not operate international flights. That is why there was a drastic drop in the number.

    “The airline also curtailed its domestic operations and a lot of its operations did not really take place and the number of flights it had going to their destinations really dropped, that is what led to these droppings even in the number of passengers that were carried.”.

    He said over 132 complaints lodged by passengers were resolved, affirming that work was on-going on pending cases.

    Abdullahi  said the NCAA in 2017 sanctioned two foreign carriers and a domestic operator over violation of passenger rights. He said the airlines were sanctioned for “failure/refusal to implement directives issued by the NCAA  on protection of consumer interest an offence that  attracts N2 million penalty.

    The other airline, he said, was sanctioned for being discourteous to passengers, an offence that  attracts a minimum of N20,000.

    He said: ”The regulations are very clear. When you do something wrong, there is a sanction attached to it, even a simple thing as being discourteous to passengers the regulations clearly spells out what the airlines are suppose to pay.

    “These sanctions are broken down to minimum, moderate and maximum.

    ”If an airline staff member is discourteous to a passenger for instance, a minimum sanction of N50,000 applies. There is a moderate  sanction of N100,000 and maximum  sanction of N200,000 and if you can prove that it happened and finds the airline liable, it has to pay that sanction.“

    Abdullahi said the reason for sanctions was not to witch-hunt any carrier, but to put airlines on the right path to improve their services.

    Said he: “As much as possible in the Consumer and Protection Directorate, we have not been sanctioning an airline because we believe sanction is not a way of improving services.

    “The way to improving service really is to show both the airline and passenger what they have done wrong and how to make amends.

    “Airlines know that when they renege on promises, they know we have the big stick and we  will wield  it but we do not make noise about it.”

    Meanwhile, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authrity Director- General, Captain Muktar Usman, said 2017 was a safe year for aviation  as the sector recorded no accident in the commercial schedules.

    He said the same feat was achieved in 2016, adding that the regulatory authority would further consolidate on the achievements in the year.

    The only incidents recorded were on the aircraft on tarmac.

    Speaking with reporters in Lagos, Usman attributed the feat to the implementation of requisite safety programmes by all authorities concerned, saying the authority kept close tap on airli res to do the right thing.

    According to him, reports of accidents released in the previous year also helped to deepen safety programmes in the sector.

    He said, “It was through a lot of hard work, training and surveillance, inspections and we want to do more on that this year.

    Meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)  has released the 2017 Preliminary Report of the global civil aviation.

    The report indicates a new record of 4.1 billion passengers ferried on scheduled services last year.

    The report indicates a seven-point one per cent increase over that of the previous year.

    It indicates that the  number of departures rose to 37 million globally expressed in terms of total scheduled revenue passenger-kilometres (RPKs), posting an increase of 7.6 per cent  with 7.7 trillion RPKs performance.

    ICAO Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu  attributed the performance of the civil air transportation to continuous improvement in safety, security efficiency and efforts by national, regional bodies to comply with aviation regulations.

    Aliu said: “The sustainability of the tremendous growth in  international civil air traffic is demonstrated by the continuous improvements to its safety, security,  efficiency and environmental footprint.

    “This sustainability is the result of concerted efforts and cooperation at the national, regional, and global levels, particularly in terms of ICAO compliancy, which is key to accessing the global network.

    “Last year also, we were able to work very hard in the retention of the Category One Federal Aviation certification for Nigeria. It is one thing to attain, it is another to sustain. Our pledge this year is that we would continue to sustain whatever certification we have and also to build on the successes we recorded last year.”