Since the pandemic recovery phase got on the way two years ago, no other year has been tagged as ‘fundamental’ to global aviation as 2023. It is the year major airlines will return to the path of profitability – no matter how small.
If the local aviation sector must return to pre-pandemic figures and ready for profitability in the months ahead, major reforms in the areas of airport infrastructure, taxes, charges and cost-saving measures must not be afterthoughts, WOLE OYEBADE writes.
Besides the spike in the cost of aviation fuel, which is global, Africa is particularly exposed to macroeconomic headwinds, which have increased the vulnerability of several economies and rendered connectivity more complex. An AirInsight report ranked Nigeria as the eighth most expensive aviation country in Africa – only behind Niger, Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Bangui, Sierra Leone, and Republic of Congo.
He added that a reduction in the sundry taxes and charges would open up the air transport sector to new travellers that had been barred by the exorbitant cost of airfares.The Nigerian terrain is blessed with at least an airport in almost all 36 States. With 216 million population and 10 airlines, it would suggest a sector humming and buzzing round the clock.
“What is strange is that all of them, from the declared information, have navigational and visual aids, CAT 1 or 2 Instrument Landing Systems and with runway lighting,” he said “If you have no space, then you will have congestion, then chaos and then commotion at the end. So you have issues with passenger delay, sorting baggage, access to the tarmac, moving bags, number of vehicles that can do it and so on.
Caulcrick noted that for those airplanes to keep operating in Nigeria, “it means it is our economy that is supporting them to fly” and no justification to keep shipping them overseas to grow other economies. Lately, the maintenance section of Nigerian aviation has received a rash of boosts in private sector investment. Besides Aero Contractors that is licensed to repair Boeing737 Classics, 7Star Hangar has recorded a feat in conducting C-check on MD-83 aircraft. Among others, Leadstream Aviation has also shown strength in Dash-8 repairs, while Akwa Ibom state government will soon open its new hangar to local investors.
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