By Our Reporter
The Founder of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has bemoaned the era of multiple charges, describing it as an albatross on the survival of indigenous carriers. Okonkwo, while speaking at the fourth anniversary of the airline, said the lingering burden has continued to overshadow positive impacts of the government’s support for the air transport sector.
While commending the forex policy of the current administration, Okonkwo said much more interventions are needed if the sector must live up to its economic potential.
Concerned by the lingering tax burden on operators, Okonkwo said it was important for the government to create a window for airlines to access funds at a reduced rate and also reduce multiple charges.
“They need to cut down on the charges the operators pay to different agencies of government, in all they are about 20.
“The margin of this business is very low and if you have to meet all those charges to NCAA, NAMA, FAAN, and others, you are left with nothing.
“It’s affecting us; we need to have more money to be able to develop, expand and then also improve the working environment for our staff.
“Government must realize that access to credit is very important to us operators because we are competing with people who have access to loans at three to five per cent interest rates. Yet, aviation is a global village and we can’t compete with them”.
The United Nigeria Airlines boss, however, said the forex policy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been of tremendous advantage to the airline industry, adding that the domestication of the Cape Town Convention helped to reduce cost of operations in the industry.
Also speaking, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Airline, Osita Okonkwo, said the airline had opened more routes nationwide, in line with its expansion strategy.
He added that its fleet expansion drive has yielded acquisition of some new planes, while the airline plans to operate to 25 destinations by 2026.