Domestic airline operators under the aegis of the Airline Operators
Association of Nigeria (AOAN) have urged the federal government to review
downward charges paid by the airlines in order to reduce their high cost of
operation.
The association’s general secretary, Mr Mohammed Joji, told journalists in
Abuja that the high operating cost was a threat to aviation industry survival
and growth in Nigeria.
According to Joji, airline operators in the country are burdened with
multiple charges, which included five per cent ticket sale charge, landing and
parking charge, passenger service charge and en-route navigational charge.
“For the operators to survive in the business, there is the need for the
government to harmonise some of these charges in the overall interest of the
sector. The charges are not good for the industry as a whole and we urge the
government to find ways of addressing this issue which has become a major
challenge to us,” he said.
He noted that in addition to these charges, airlines are also subjected to
paying the Value Added Tax (VAT) to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
which he said is abnormal.
“The issue of multiple charges is a major challenge facing local airline
operators because the charges are so numerous and have significantly affected
airlines operations,” he lamented.
Source: Leadership.ng
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