Airline Operators Blame FAAN For Flight Delays, Cancellations, Reject Aviation Fuel Racketeering

By Akinwale Kasali

The Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, has alleged that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, is responsible for the frequent delays and cancellations of flights due to the inadequacy of critical infrastructure at the airport.

It expressing its displeasure over numerous issues in the aviation industry which is in turn having a toll on their productivity and service delivery.

Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, speaking at a Press Briefing in Abuja, said that when it comes to flight delays and cancellations, so many things are involved which many people do not know but rather blame the airlines, adding that no airline in the world would want to delay flights because of the cost implications.

Onyema stressed that the Airline Operators are operating in a hostile environment with limited infrastructures in place.

“How would I just wake up and want to delay my flight when I know I am going to incur a heavy cost.

“The Airlines are at the mercy of everybody. The owners of airlines in Nigeria are patriotic because it is not profitable. They are doing it as a service to Nigeria and should be applauded, not demonised.

“Nigerian indigenous airlines are performing under certain conditions that we should be applauded for still staying afloat. Is it forex, or fuel infrastructure? How about bird strikes in a good country? the airlines would have gone to court against FAAN for all the bird strikes because we pay for these services. Air Peace alone had had over twenty bird strikes in a year.”

In the same vein, the Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines and Spokesperson for AON,  Obiora Okonkwo, said there is a huge racketeering in the aviation fuel imports to the detriment of the airlines.

According to him, aviation fuel selling above N800/litre is not acceptable as our calculation shows that it shouldn’t be selling above N500/litre.

He said: “The authorities should make forex available and do something about the fuel racketeering. We are paying above the real cost. We are not asking for free money nor subsidy but the right thing should be done as the burden is transferred to the travellers.”