Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Compels Foreign Airlines to Release Lower Ticket Inventory
Written by Deborah Oyinloye on March 2, 2024
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken steps to address the issue of exorbitant airfares charged by international carriers to Nigerian travellers. Following intervention by the NCAA, several foreign airlines, including Lufthansa, KLM, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, British Airways, Royal Air Maroc, RwandAir, and Turkish Airlines, have released lower inventory tickets that were previously unavailable.
Acting Director General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, highlighted the compliance of these airlines, stating, “Airlines like Lufthansa German Airlines, KLM, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, British Airways, Royal Air Maroc, RwandAir, and Turkish Airlines had released their low ticket inventory.” However, Air France has been noted for its failure to comply with the directive.
In response to the high cost of flight tickets, the Director General initiated a 10-man Committee to investigate the issue. Chaired by the Director of Special Duties at NCAA, Mr Horatius Egua, the committee ensures full compliance from foreign airlines and recommends appropriate pricing strategies in Nigeria compared to other markets in the West African sub-region.
Najomo emphasized the airfare disparity, stating, “We cannot continue to pay higher fares compared to other countries in the sub-region that have similar distances, using the same operating aircraft.” He added, “This is discriminatory and an unfair practice, and we reject this in totality.”
The meeting held at NCAA headquarters in Abuja included representatives from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), presenting on behalf of foreign airlines.
Despite economic challenges, Nigerians continue to travel abroad, with airlines like Ethiopian Airlines experiencing high passenger traffic. Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr Mesfin Tasew, affirmed the sustained passenger volume on the Nigerian route, despite currency devaluation.
Tasew noted, “The naira has been devalued extensively, and that has affected our cash management,” but emphasized that passenger volume remains unaffected. “Nigerians are still travelling abroad, and they are using Ethiopian Airlines,” he stated. “The traffic volume is still at the same level.”
Author: Deborah Oyinloye
With an interest in media, Deborah aims to impart the lives of people positively.
