Nigeria, Germany to seal new air pact written by Wole Shadare (The Guardian)

GERMANY has unfolded plans to have a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Nigeria; an indication of likely expansion of its operations to Nigeria.
The development is a fall out of the current talks between the two countries on air pact, among others.
Also on the table for discussion and approval is the liberalization of traffic right that could afford Lufthansa German Airline more frequencies into Nigeria, just as there plans for the carrier to partner with Nigeria airlines on code-share arrangement.
Speaking recently on the occasion to mark Lufthansa’s 50 years of operations in Nigeria, Managing Director (West Africa) of the airline, Claus Becker said discussions were still ongoing on several issues between both nations.
Already, the German airline has a total of 14 frequencies (flight right) to Nigeria, with operations to Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
There were indications also that the Federal Government could be holding talks with the German airline as a strategic partner with a soon-to-be floated national airline which Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi said would come on stream very soon.
The Minister, last week at the Ministerial Aviation Safety summit held in Abuja unfolded government’s plans to set up a new national airline as call for a new national carrier is gaining momentum.
She stated that unlike the previous exercise that was wholly owned by the government, the new airline she noted would be public owned.
Becker said it was imperative for the country to build right aviation infrastructure and very sound air traffic management.
He however commended the government for efforts in upgrading some of the airport facilities to international standard, adding that the sooner they finish the better for the airlines, travelers and other airport users.
His words: “The facilities are being upgraded. Nigeria deserves proper, functional airports. The construction of airport we see in Lagos gives us hope”.
Speaking in the same vein, Vice- President, Sales and Services (Southern Europe, Africa and Middle East), Carsten Schaeffer expressed concern over exorbitant taxes being charged by the authorities especially by aviation ground handling firms.
He described the taxes as outrageous, ‘’and one of the most expensive in the world. For the Port-Harcourt airport which is still undergoing renovation, these taxes of $80 is one of the most expensive in the world. The airport should be made to be up to standards’’.
Giving an overview of its operations in the past 50 years, the airline chief said for 2011, Lufthansa Airline airlifted 300,000 passengers to and from Nigeria and earned 60 million euros, adding that royalties, multiple taxes were some of the constraints the carrier and many face operating to the country.
Many airlines, including domestic carriers have heavily criticized too many taxes imposed on air passengers and airlines by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). Many described them as huge constraints to their bottom line.
On the contentious remittance of five per cent fuel surcharge, Schaeffer disclosed that discussions were still going on the issue but noted that the government could not retroactively take action on an issue that is not in the law.
He however, accepted that the airline would comply if it decides to introduce the policy.
Senate Committee on Aviation had in April this year when controversy raged over high fares charged by foreign airlines, directed the NCAA to compute and recover from the airlines operating in the country the five percent passenger fuel surcharge and pay into government coffers.
The directive followed admission by the airlines that they were not paying the five percent fuel surcharge as statutorily required from all tickets sold to passengers after claiming that they were not aware of any law mandating them to pay.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93897:nigeria-germany-to-seal-new-air-pact-&catid=31:business&Itemid=562