The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • DANA is airline of the year

    Dana Air has won the Nigerian Airline of the Year  award at the World Stage Economic Summit (WES 2017) held in Lagos at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

    The President/Chief Executive Officer of World Stage Economic Summit, Segun Adeleye, who spoke on the theme: Transforming business and economy through innovation, stated that Dana Air got  the award due to its innovation and immense contribution to the growth of the economy in 2017.

    Adeleye described the airline as “one of the outstanding institutions” .

    Responding, the airline’s spokesman, Kingsley Ezenwa, expressed gratitude to the organisers of the award.

    He said: “We are delighted to have received yet another laurel and we are more than ever committed to delivering the best air transport services to our guests at all times.

    ‘Our innovative online products, strategic partnerships and unrivaled customer services, speak volumes of the effort we have made to enhance customer experience and reward loyalty,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the airline has partnered Zowasel.com, an e-commerce platform to provide its passengers great deals and amazing discounts when they visit any of the partner hotels, spas, dental care outlets, and restaurants.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Zowasel, Jerry Oche, while commenting on the partnership described Zowasel as “one of the best platforms to get the best deals”, stressing: “We are partnering an airline that is reputed for its innovation and commitment towards providing extra value for its customers.’’

  • Safety outing: NCAA set for FAA’s audit

    Safety outing: NCAA set for FAA’s audit

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is in the eye of the storm as audit of its operation begins.

    The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has sent a team of airworthiness and related experts to Nigeria to re-validate the Category One Safety rating it awarded the country in August 2010.

    The team according to investigation, has begun to audit how NCAA discharges its oversight duties on airlines, airport authorities, ground handling companies, among others, in the country.

    The FAA team is visiting Nigeria for the second time seven years after it awarded the country the safety rating.

    Nigeria is among a few countries in Africa that have category one safety rating . Others include Egypt, South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco and Ethiopia.

    Category One safety rating, according to the spokesman of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye,  confers on countries the highest level of civil aviation regulation. He said the rating is a confirmation that such countries are complying with global aviation regulations as prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    The rating, he said,  grants access to countries  to fly directly with their registered aircraft into the United States.

    Investigations revealed that the visit of the FAA team is sequel to complaints about the quality of oversight duties discharged by the NCAA.

    Nigeria’s inclusion in the elite club of civil aviation nations is facing a litmus test as the FAA team subjects  the country’s civil aviation regulation to another round of audit this week.

    Will Nigeria scale through the  on going re-validation audit?

     

    FAA team members

     

    According investigations, the FAA team comprises operations, airworthiness and legal specialists led by Louis Alvarez. Others are Benjamin Garrido and Jeffrey Klang.

     

    Objective of audit

     

    Though complaints are mounting among operators and industry watchers over alleged sloppy discharge of oversight duties, the NCAA said it is ready for the audit.

    Speaking in a recent interview in Lagos, Adurogboye said the NCAA had been communicated by the FAA on grey areas it would want the authority to address.

    The NCAA official said the objective of the audit will include assessment and level of compliance of Nigeria with international regulations as it affects general aviation policy, procedure, aircraft maintenance organisation  and flight operations.

    He said the team will utilise the checklist approved  for International Aviation Safety Assessment ( IASA) already mailed to NCAA.

    Adurogboye said the checklist contains questions the NCAA is supposed to provide answers to.

    He said : “The mission of FAA is to assess the states’ aviation law, regulations and oversight capability in accordance with the eight critical elements as defined in ICAO document 9734.”

     

    FAA checklist for NCAA

     

    The NCAA spokesman said the authority has already received a checklist on the critical elements to be examined by the FAA team.

    He said the team will examine steps taken by the NCAA to comply with ICAO regulations on aviation legislation, civil aviation regulation; technical guidance tools; technical staff; quality of training; licensing certification and approvals; continuos surveillance and resolution of safety concerns .

    Some industry watchers, however, are skeptical about how NCAA will navigate its way through these critical elements on account of discontent among its personnel on the  quality of training and re-retraining in the authority.

    Some operators had complained about inadequate technical personnel on the areas of airworthiness and aircraft inspection.

    They repeatedly lamented that the NCAA lacks requisite capacity in aircraft inspection as the authority is yet to have rated inspectors on some aircraft types.

     

    Airline for audit

     

    Unlike in 2014 when the FAA carried out the last re-validation audit, Arik Air was used as the airline for audit.

    The airline was chosen then because of its adherence to international operational safety standards. But the paradigm has shifted this year as NCAA said the FAA team will be visiting Medview Airlines as the carrier for the audit .

    Adurogboye said: “The FAA team will visit the maintenance organisation of Medview Airlines and any other necessary airline operator. The director-general  has, therefore, activated the standing audit team and they have swung into action.  Meetings are being held in readiness for the exercise.”

     

    Controversies

     

    Some industry players have, however, cautioned NCAA over the use of airlines as reference operator for the FAA audit.

    They hinged their fear on recent controversies involving Medview Airlines and one of its aircraft blacklisted by the European Commission.

    They blamed NCAA for shoddy oversight duties on the airline.

    An industry expert who pleaded not be named said: “The recent blacklisting of Medview Airlines aircraft by the European Commission was a slap on the oversight duties of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

    “If the authority had discharged its duties creditably it wouldn’t get to that level. I think the authority has to wake up to its oversight duties before embarrassing Nigeria in the global arena.”

    Earlier this year, Executive Chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison had sought the audit of the NCAA over some infractions bordering on its duties.

    Meggison said the regulatory authority needed to be overhauled to keep it at speed with global standards.

    Speaking in an interview, a pilot, Makanjuola Owolabi, accused the NCAA of lapse in its oversight duties.

    He warned that unless NCAA alter the regulatory stakes in its approach to safety, things could go wrong .

    He said NCAA should raise the bar in the training of technical personnel.

     

    Experts verdict on NCAA

     

    Experts say the NCAA should extricate itself from undue ministerial interference in the discharge of its oversight duties if it must be taken seriously in global quarters.

    Speaking in a recent interview, President, Aviation Safety Roundtable (ART), Gbenga Olowo said the role played by the NCAA during the closure and reopening of Abuja Airport did not reflect its superintending role in the sector.

    Olowo said the NCAA allowed the Ministry of Aviation to hijack its oversight role in the certification and audit of airports.

    He said: “The Abuja Airport runway problem earlier in the year  happened because  NCAA that is responsible for conducting safety oversight of the sector was docile and failed in ensuring the relevant agencies complied with runway maintenance programme as an operational safety requirement.

    “This lethargic oversight of NCAA has contributed in bringing the industry to the situation it is today. To say the least, this NCAA is spineless.”

    Though, NCAA claims it is carrying out proper audit of domestic carriers, investigation reveals that an airline operates a lone aircraft in its fleet.

    Commenting on the development, an aviation security expert, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), accused  NCAA of being passive in ensuring operators comply with necessary provisions of economic regulation.

    Former President, Aviation Roundtable, Captain Dele Ore, corroborated Ojikutu’s position, saying that NCAA needs to step up its oversight duties.

    According to Ore, the quality of civil aviation regulations is what stands a country out.

     

    Optimism over exercise

     

    The Director-General of NCAA, Captain Mukthar Usman, said he is optimistic the authority will pull through the re-validation audit because of the four agenda it embarked on this year.

    Speaking in an interview in Lagos, Usman said the authority has  pursued sustainability of zero accident in the sector.

    He said the authority has been reviewing and strengthening its economic regulation oversight as well as improvement in consumer protection and continuous prioritisation of training.

  • Our fares meant to attract investors, says Air Peace

    A Low air fare regime will attract investors to secondary airports and boost the economies of states where they are sited,  Air Peace, Chairman Allen Onyema has said.

    According to him, without air link, many states in some parts of the country would not be  accessed. He described the opening of the Lagos – Akure route as one of such initiatives.

    The airline, he said,  decided to charge N10,000 on the route to attract tourists and investors to the Sunshine State.

    Besides,  the fare regime will also encourage other passengers to seek business and other opportunities in the state.

    Onyema said daily flights between Lagos and Akure would enable investors escape road hazards.

    He said the airline would sustain the N10,000 fare on the route as part of its contributions to national economic development.

    Onyema said: “It’s part of Air Peace’s drive to contribute to the peace and unity of this country. The amount we are charging is just N10,000 and this has never happened before. The least in this country, I believe, is N35, 000. The amount we are charging is the same amount of money they use to board road transport to Lagos from Akure.

    “We believe that there are human and mineral resources in this state. So, we want to help investors to come to the state and even Ekiti State. Aviation is a catalyst for development of any state. It’s our own contribution to develop any part of this country. We are going to Akure to help them actualise their own development.

    “The most important thing is to make it affordable to people. We are not making it high; we just want to contribute our own quota. I have done that for Kebbi State and I am now doing it for the South west.

    ” That is the only way we can ensure security of lives in this country. The fare is going to continue and I don’t know when I am going to stop it.”

  • IATA to Africa: invest in airport infrastructure 

    IATA to Africa: invest in airport infrastructure 

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has advised African governments to invest in airport infrastructure.

    Such investment, IATA said, would ensure improvement in air safety.

    Besides, focusing on airport infrastructure, the global airlines regulator also urged African governments to consider committing more resources to training of technical aviation personnel to boost the quality of  industry expertise and education.

    IATA said investment in human capital development was neccessary for the growth and development of air transportation in Africa.

    Its Regional Vice President, Africa and Middle East, Muhammad Ali Albakri, made this known in an interview with The Nation at the weekend  in Lagos.

    He said air transport could grow in Africa, if governments plough revenues accruing from taxes and levies into expanding operational facilities to enable airline operate safely and profitably.

    Albakri said the global body will continue to engageAfrican governments on ways to improve civil aviation regulation,promote safety and security as well as design measures that will stimulate the growth of air transportation.

    The global airlines regulator, however, canvassed the sharing of security information among African countries to facilitate the movement of cargo and people across transnational borders.

    He said connectivity within African countries still remains a major hurdle for many countries because of failure of African governments to liberalise their airspace.

    Liberalising the African airspace, Albakri said, will make it easy for more carriers to fly into major  capitals without bilateral restrictions.

    Regrettably, Albakri said the Single African Sky Agreement reached by many countries many years was yet to take off, because some of them were yet to realise the benefits a liberalised airspace could bring to their economies.

    He said though Nigeria has taken some steps to fix its aviator sector, a lot still needs to be done.

    Albakri said: “Air transport in Nigeria supports more than 650,800 jobs, including tourism-related employment, and contributing $8.2 billion to the country‘s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    “ Over the next 10 years, passenger volumes are forecast to grow more than seven per cent yearly, exceeding the global average by a healthy margin.

    “For Nigeria, this means an additional 7.9 million passengers that will take to the sky every year, creating significant opportunity to accelerate economic growth, boost prosperity and support development.”

    He said despite significant investment in Nigeria’s aviation sector, the country’s air transport infrastructure still ranks low among African states.

    Albakri said though IATA recognises and supports the positive developments by Nigeria on infrastructure, it  seeks continued adherence to international best practices and an optimal regulatory environment.

    He said: “Now that the country is emerging from recession, aviation can unlock the enormous economic potential that exists within Nigeria. We encourage the government to continue to promote aviation for its role as a catalyst and economic enabler for the country, and to promote stronger connectivity within Nigeria and its neighbouring African countries.

    “In addition, now is the time to continue to invest in modern and efficient infrastructure to accommodate the future traffic growth that will occur,” he said.

    Albakri said unwarranted or excessive taxation on international air transport will continue to have negative impact on economic and social development.

    This, he said, pushed IATA to join forces with industry partners in ensuring that airlines are subjected to fair and efficient taxation measures with respect to their operations, regardless of location.

    He said: “IATA will continue to work with the industry to ensure that government authorities adhere to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations taxation principles. In this regard, IATA is actively involved in a range of activities.

    “We will ensure that new and existing taxation measures, be they direct or indirect, are fairly applied and adequately consider the economic and social ramifications.

    “We will continue to push  against measures that result in double taxation, mobilise  against taxation measures that unjustly target the industry, where the resulting tax revenues are not reinvested in air transport related services and infrastructure.          He also said IATA will continue to play leadership role in influencing airport and airspace planning and development projects worldwide to meet airline requirements for safety, efficiency and functionality.

    The IATA chief, however, spared  a thought for the multiple entry policy obtainable for African carriers into Nigeria, urging other African carriers to open their skies for accelerated development of the continent.

    Albakri said: “We encourage other countries to embrace what Nigeria has done by removing all restrictions that serve as obstacle to opening Africa with  the least requirements.

    “What we need in Africa is air services to connect the entire continent so that there could be exchange of expertise, knowledge and commerce.”

    He said air safety in Africa has improved tremendously with more carriers embracing the International Operations Safety Audit ( IOSA).

    Albakri said: “Safety has improved for African carriers due to hard work and focus on international standards, practices and procedures.

    “We will continue to urge African countries to focus on airport and airspace management infrastructure improve training  documentation, engage in regulatory information sharing to drive safety culture.”

  • Freighting of cargoes rises by 10%, says NAHCO chief

    Freighting of agricultural and perishable cargoes and other non-consumable products at the nation’s international airports has increased by 10 per cent, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Chief Commercial Officer Seyi Adewale has said.

    He said the air freight of such cargoes increased from about two per cent to 12.5 per cent in the last few years due to the export promotion policy.

    He listed the perishable cargoes to include tomatoes, vegetable and yams.Other non-consumable cargoes include native fabrics, hair extension and donkey skins.

    Adewale said the rise in cargo export to the United States, European, Asian,Middle East and African countries in the last few years has forced the cargo handling company to upgrade the security and safety standards of its  cargo warehouse.

    In an interview in Lagos, Adewale said the firm has stepped up the level of security and safety of its facilities because airlines that ferry air cargo are concerned about the level of compliance of air cargo in line with prescribed global standards.

    He said: “Perishables cargo export has grown from as low as two per cent to about 12 per cent in the last few years, representing over  10 per cent  increase. Since we handle about 80 per cent  of the cargo in and out of the country, this for us is large.”

    According to him, most of the shipments go to the US, which constitutes the highest percentage for export.

    Giving a breakdown, he said 38 per cent of exports coming through his company’s warehouse goes to US, while 34 per cent go to Europe, which includes the United Kingdom.

    Also, while 15  per cent of the cargo go to Africa, nine per cent go to Asia, leaving only two per cent to the Middle  East.

    Adewale added that perishables like tomatoes, fruit and vegetables amongst others have grown and are still growing.

    “People are now exporting yams. They also export dry fish and general goods such as non-consumables like cloths, native fabrics, hair extensions and donkey skins,” he said.

    Besides stepping up security and safety of its facilities, Adewale said NAHCO was subjected to a twice- monthly technical audit by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    The audit by the three bodies , he said, was to ensure that any cargo that goes into any aircraft was safe, not harmful and illegal.

    Adewale said: “One of the challenges of exportation in Nigeria is the requirements for us to maintain a world class export warehouse.

    “We have two X-ray machines. To service these machines on a quarterly basis cost millions of naira and that is if there are no major repairs to be carried out.

    “Airlines are more concerned about exports because whatever they are going to put on their aircraft must be right in terms of safety and security. Airlines are conscious about the export facilities, export processes and security.”

    According to him, this puts the company on the edge, with at least,  two audits monthly by ICAO and other relevant agencies.

    He said another challenge is that because the business is growing and the company need to expand, the little money it makes is ploughed back into the business.

    “We recently extended our acceptance section to another product packaging section so that we decongest the export warehouse because of the capacity,” Adewale added.

  • Expert canvasses data bank for unemployed aviation personnel

    Expert canvasses data bank for unemployed aviation personnel

    Executive Director, Centre for Aviation Safety and Research (CASR), Sheri Kyari has canvassed a data bank for unemployed aviation personnel in Nigeria .

    Such data bank, Kyari said, would assist relevant aviation authorities to source for personnel needed for their operations.

    Kyari, an aircraft engineer, said the data bank should include the number of unemployed pilots, engineers, flight dispatchers , cabin crew, air traffic controllers and other critical aviation personnel.

    He said it is the duty of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to establish such data bank to enable it assist airlines and other organisations seeking competent personnel to run their business .

    Kyari said the NCAA should liaise with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology ( NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State, to ascertain the number of aviation professionals trained in the college .

    Such partnership he further explained, would facilitate necessary licensing by the regulator to serve as a pool of expertise in the sector .

    Kyari urged NCAT and NCAA to adopt the curriculum development model in place by Ethiopian Aviation Academy , located in Addis Ababa, which  enables the country’s aviation sector to equip its graduates preparatory for job pursuit globally.

    The feat, Kyari further explained, was a deliberate intervention by the government of Ethiopia to enable its pilots and other professional graduates secure Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licensing as well as licensing from the European Aviation Safety Agency ( EASA).

    According to him, if Nigerian pilots and aircraft engineers graduates are equipped with international standards and licensing , it would be easier to secure jobs both at home and overseas .

    Kyari said:” There is need for Nigeria to consider developing a data bank for aviation professional. Such data bank should be facili tated by the NCAA and importantly the college of aviation technology.”

    He further added that knowing the number of unemployed pilots, engineers,  aircraft dispatchers and cabin crew, would give airlines desirous of their services access to them.

    However, Kyari said there is a need to upgrade the curriculum of aviation training schools to enable the system prepare graduate pilots and engineers for international licensing with FAA and EASA; this, he reckons, would enable such graduates get international jobs .

    “That is what the government of  Ethiopia has done by equipping its training academy with global bodies to enable its graduates secure necessary licensing for international jobs .

    “Ethiopia has a data bank on its aviation personnel . That model.     I think Nigeria should adopt to grow its aviation personnel both in formal employment and unemployed .”

  • ATSSSAN kicks against five per cent remittance to AIB

    Members of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) branch have kicked against the recent directive by the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, that FAAN should be remitting five per cent of its Passenger Service Charges (PSC) to the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) monthly.

    The aviation union which described the directive by the minister as unpopular, pointed out that such step is detrimental to the operations and performance of FAAN.

    Speaking on behalf of ATSSSAN, the FAAN branch Chairman, Comrade Danjuma Ahmed, said that revenue of that nature cannot be given to a sister agency without recourse to the law.

    Danjuma informed that FAAN was established by an Act of Parliament which approves their expenditures through their budget and as such, it is only the National Assembly that can warrant any removal of such revenue to any agency.

    The ATSSSAN leader, who made it clear that FAAN cannot afford remit a Kobo to any agency, said that already FAAN remits about 20 per cent of its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the federation account, part of which is the pasenger service charge (PSC)

    Emphasising further, Danjuma stated that the PSC is the tariff FAAN charges passengers pay  for services it offers to them in respect to terminal building, screening equipment, conveniences for travelling passengers and any other which is only N1, 000.

    Danjuma said that the amount generated presently is inadequate for FAAN, which is even finding it difficult to operate and provide those services efficiently as expected by her passengers.

    He, therefore, affirmed that the request by the minister for five per cent  remittance to AIB will definitely affect FAAN’s performance, vis-à-vis the provision of those services.

  • Airspace chief advocates  synergy among flight information regions

    The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Manage-ment Agency (NAMA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, has advocated an enhanced synergy among Flight Information Regions (FIRs) within the African and Indian Ocean Region (AFI Region) as this would further improve the safety profile of the region.

    Akinkuotu disclosed this last week  while declaring open a five-day Air Traffic System Investigator Workshop hosted by the agency in Lagos.

    He noted that NAMA on its part would strive towards building regional bridges in order to keep pace with latest trends, especially in air traffic management in a dynamic aviation industry.

    He said such regional cooperation has become  compelling with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) goal of entrenching harmony and seamlessness in every facet of International Civil Aviation.

    While commending ICAO for availing Nigeria the opportunity to host the workshop,  Capt Akinkuotu said the benefits of the meeting are enormous as “the workshop would provide participants with knowledge and skills of Air Traffic System (ATS) incident reporting and investigation especially for operational personnel of Air Navigation Service Providers such as NAMA.’’

    Speaking further, the NAMA boss said: “the quality of air navigation services, particularly air traffic services has been subjected to integrity tests going by the streams of Air Safety Reports received from our airspace users.” He, however, stressed that the quality of incidents investigation on the other hand should impact positively on the corrective action plan that would minimise future re-occurrence, which he said is the essence of this workshop.

    Also in his remarks, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Muhtar Usman who was represented by the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, Mr Mohammed Odunowo, stated that global economic and demographic statistics indicate that Africa will experience significant increase in population, expansion in economic activities, as well as increased demand for air transport services in the near future.

    He explained that while the above trend indicates great potentials and opportunities for the African economy as well as aviation sector, it also places immense responsibility on relevant aviation authorities towards the enhancement of Air Traffic Management capacity, efficiency and safety performance.”

  • 25 ships laden with petroleum products, others at Apapa ports

    TwentY-FIVE ships are discharging petroleum products and other commodities at the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said.

    According to NPA, the other items being offloaded are bulk wheat, steel products, general cargo, petrol, containers and bulk gas.

    They also include bulk charcoal, butane gas, raw sugar, ballast, bulk corn and bulk fertiliser.

    Forty-one other ships are also expected to arrive at the ports between now and August 28 with petroleum products, food items and other goods.

    NPA said the ships would bring general cargoes, bulk fertiliser, buck wheat, lubrication oil, empty containers, bulk sugar and petrol.

    It added that 10 ships had arrived at the ports, waiting to berth with bulk fertiliser, general cargo, bulk sculpture and petrol.

  • Multiple charges kill 100 airlines, says Air Peace chief

    Multiple charges kill 100 airlines, says Air Peace chief

    Over 100 airlines have collapsed because of multiple charges, air peace chairman, Allen Onyema has said.

    He urged the National Assembly to intervene to save the sub–sector from collapse.

    Onyema said due to the harsh operating condition in the country, airlines were not making profit, adding that the little gains  made go to agencies in the form of taxes and charges.

    “You cannot talk about safe operations without good policy. Aviation does not yield the heavy profit one expects; the profit is always marginal but in developed countries, mega airlines make between three and five per cent profit but in Nigeria, we do not even talk about breaking even, we think about losses because the environment is harsh and the facilities are not there,” he said.

    According to him, the sector agencies have turned the airlines  into a kind of automated teller machine (ATM), lamenting that carriers pay over 37 charges, including en-route, landing and parking, and passenger service charge, warning that unless the National Assembly reviews aviation regulations, the few airlines in the country may go into extinction in the next one year.

    Onyema, who identified other problems plaguing the sector to include lack of facilities, especially for night operations, heavy insurance, among others, said:  ‘If over 100 airlines have collapsed in Nigeria, there are fundamental issues to be resolved.

    Airlines that have collapsed in Nigeria include : Albarka Airlines, Fresh Air, Okada Air, Virgin Nigeria Airways, EAS / NICON Airways, Spaceworld Airlines, Afrijet, IRS Airlines and Chanchangi Airlines.

    Others include : Chrome Air Services, Sosoliso Airlines, ADC Airlines, Freedom Air Services, Slok Air, DASAB Airlines, Amako Airlines, Concord Airlines, Oriental Airlines, Trans Sahara Airlines, Air MidWest, Falcon Air and Bellview Airlines.

    He said: “There are no night flight facilities at many airports and that is a great loss to airlines. We pay heavily for maintenance because there is no maintenance facility in the country and the cost of ticket in Nigeria is very cheap. It is less than $32.”

    While commending the government over the Executive Orders, which, he said, has eased the way businesses are done in the country, he called on operators to show integrity whenever financial institutions give them loans.

    Also, Spring Fountain Limited Managing Director, Tunde Fagbemi, said it was time for domestic operators to cooperate as unhealthy competition would push them out of business, urging them to share time costs and optimise to  remain afloat.

    One of the ways of achieving this, he said is to embrace the fuel hedging proposal being worked out by African Aircraft Leasing Company to reduce the price of aviation fuel through volume transactions.

    He said: “I think it is time for Nigerian carriers to aggregate their costs and consumption. We are already approaching major oil marketing company to offer aviation fuel at good prices.

    “Apart from that, the leading company is concluding negotiations to enable indigenous carriers acquire brand new aircraft that will reduce their operating and maintenance costs. There’s the new lease of life and platform we are creating for them to do business.”