- Demands FG puts stop to multiple designation of Qatar, Ethiopian
- Says airlines did not collude on ₦50,000 fares; industry in dire straits
NIGERIAN airlines have said within the year they have lost at least $60 million dollars to Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard ( BASH) also known as bird strikes and at the same time refunded over ₦20billion for cancelled flights.
This is just as the airlines, under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria ( AON) have condemned in strong terms the granting of multiple designations to foreign airlines particularly Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines stressing that government by so doing inhibits the growth of domestic airlines.
The AON who rose from their annual General Meeting today February 23rd, 2022 also said that the ₦50,000 ticket prices was not something airlines did together stating that each airline checked it’s unit cost per seat and made the decision to increase the fares according following the challenges of fuel increase, access to forex and an array of challenges mentioned.
Vice President of the AON, Chief Allen Onyema who addressed the media at the behest of the president on bird strikes said airlines have lost over$60bn, he said that Air Peace alone suffered fourteen (14) bird strikes in 2021 alone and this year has suffered four (4).
” If you multiple 14 by $3m dollars for an engine of a 737. You will understand and this is just for Air Peace. We had an aircraft that suffered a bird strike in Benin and Air Peace sent it’s E2-195;to rescue the situation only for that to also suffer a bird strike. And other airlines can tell you their stories. READ ALSO: Domestic airlines list 16 reasons for flight delays, cancellations; chides Senate over foreign airline remarks            Â
” On refund losses this year alone Air peace has lost ₦1bn, across all we have lost no fewer than ₦20bn because of refunds caused because we have Aircraft on Ground ( AOG) coming from the fact we lost an engine, we get an engineer and it is a challenge to clear with customs despite the zero tariff on aircraft and spares.
On the airlines’ call against multiple designation, Onyema said,” the airline’s object very seriously the multiple designation given to foreign airlines especially Qatar and Ethiopian, it is the belief that the growth of Nigerian Aviation will be affected not we keep encouraging this foray into our airspace.
“All the foreign airlines it together do not provide 10% of the jobs provided by the smallest airline in Nigeria. Multiple designation is tantamount to loss of jobs and will worsen the situation…the airlines for the record oppose the multiple designation.
On fixing of air fares by all domestic airlines, pegging it at ₦50,000 round, the AON leadership said it was not true and the fares were not agreed upon and fixed. READ ALSO: Flight delays and cancellations: A broader, truer perspective – Captain Ibrahim K. Mshelia
He however said the ground handlers came together and pegged fares and no one is saying anything especially as their increment impacts on the operations and adds to their cost.
Onyema said,” we want to make hold to say airlines of anigeria never got togetherness to fix prices. The ₦50,000 you are seeing on our inventory has always been there. During Christmas certain fares will get to ₦60,000 on their own, airlines did not come togetherness to do that. They only checked unit cost per seat.
” If Aviation fuel has risen 200% in a month what do I as an operator do? If forex has risen from ₦340 to ₦580 what do I do, gentlemen let us not forget our business is dollarized..” he lamented
