Airline operators, rejects Nigeria's endorsement of African open skies

Airline operators, rejects Nigeria's endorsement of African open skies

 

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

Airline operators yesterday rejected Nigeria's endorsement for the implementation of Africa open skies policy. 

They also said they were not carried along in the discussions leading to the endorsement of the air pact which is intending to shortchange the industry. 

The airlines operators said there is no level playing field where Nigeria can compete with other African carriers, which still enjoy some protectionism.

Open skies is a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063, an initiative of the AU, to create a single unified air transport market in Africa, the liberalisation of civil aviation in Africa and as an impetus to the Continent’s economic integration agenda.

Speaking during a sensitization workshop on the implementation of Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM), Nogie Meggison, president of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, (AON) said before taking decisions, Nigeria's technical team should be carried along so they can delibrate on how the policies can benefit Nigeria.

"Europe and America are not implementing open skies. Why is Nigeria rushing to implement open skies? We must put Nigeria first. If we open the skies, what advantages does Nigeria stand to gain. The domestic airlines are not comfortable with the policy. Do we have visas to travel around Africa before we open the skies? Are the taxes in Nigeria and that of other countries uniform?," Meggison added. 

He disclosed that when Nigerian airlines land in Dakar, they pay 4, 000dollars for landing fees, while other African carriers operating in Nigeria pay 200dollars for landing fees.

He recalled that when AirPeace wanted to operate to Abidjan, they charged him 5000dollars per landing. "Are a opening the sky on a level playing ground? African airlines access foreign exchange by Nigerian airlines don't. Rwand Air is government owned. I borrow money at 28 percent interest rate, while other African airlines borrow money at two percent interest rate.

"As a result of policies on ground, over 50 airlines have gone under. Let us first address out own issues before implementing the open skies policy," Meggison explained. 

Muhammed Joji, Chairman, Aircraft Operatiors, Association of Nigeria, (AOAN) also supported Meggson's views, stressing that Nigeria still don't have the right policies in place to support the open skies policy.

"We buy aircraft parts in dollars and the zero duty on aircraft parts importation is still not effective. The authorities in place deny us lands to build Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) for our aircraft repairs and they still charge us double taxation. How can a compete effectively,"

Joji added. 

However, Hadi Sirika, who was represented by , Fola Akinkuotu,  managing director, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency  (NAMA) who spoke  at the event said Nigeria is committed to the full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), which will be inaugurated on Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

According to him, Africa must leverage on the immense potential offered by SAATM and the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) to enhance traffic connectivity and significant growth in passengers volumes over the next few years.

“We must all therefore strive to commit to the full implementation and operationalisation of SAATM, we need to leap forward so as to become an effective global competitor in aviation.

“In this regard, Nigeria being one of the pioneer Member States signatories to YD, is one of the 23 states that have so far made solemn commitment to the implementation of SAATM by 2018," the minister added. 

Also, Muthtar Usman, Director-General of the NCAA, Muhtar Usman, said the importance of SAATM to African aviation cannot be over-emphasised.

“Thus, it is imperative that we organise this sensitisation workshop to intensify awareness campaign among the critical stakeholders on the impact as well as benefits of SAATM on the industry and national economy.

“In this regard, I wish to enjoin all stakeholders to come together to improve the aviation support base in Nigeria and embrace as well as harness the opportunities that SAATM offers,”Usman said.

In order to move the continent forward towards the concrete implementation of the AU Agenda 2063, the 24th Assembly of Head of States and Government, which took place between Jan. 30 and Jan. 31, 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, adopted the Declaration on the Establishment of a SAATM.

Eleven African Member States championed the Declaration by signing the Solemn Commitment to actualise the Yamoussoukro Decision creating the single market.

These Member States were constituted as a Ministerial Working Group with the responsibility to follow-up implementation progress, provide guidance, and spearhead the advocacy campaign to urge more Member States to join the single market.

In May 2016, the AUC wrote to those States that have signed the Solemn Commitment to highlight a number of concrete measures for them to undertake to initiate operationalisation of the single air transport market in the continent as soon as possible.