Travelers bemoan introduction of restrictions by more foreign airlines
Help for Nigerian travelers traveling abroad is still in short supply as more international airlines impose restrictions on their business practices.
Restrictions include, among other things, selling tickets in dollars, halting ticket issuance from outside Nigeria, and reducing inventory.
The development comes in the midst of approximately $456 million in frozen funds belonging to foreign airlines.
As a result, most international airlines operating in the country have ceased accepting naira payments for flying tickets, which is a violation of NCAA directives.
The NCAA had threatened to fine any airline selling tickets in dollars, but no single airline has been sanctioned to date.
According to Aviation World, foreign airlines take Naira from clients and swap the currency.
Susan Akporiaye, President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, NANTA, told Vanguard's Aviation World that the situation has gotten worse.
"Some airlines that had no limits previously now have imposed extra restrictions, making it more difficult for both travelers and travel agencies," she explained.
"The only airlines operating in the country without restrictions on ticket purchases, both in Nigeria and their country, are Qatar Airways, ASKY, and Africa World Airlines."
"Ethiopian Airlines, along with a few other airlines, have joined in imposing tickets limitations." We are currently unable to provide tickets originating outside of Nigeria. We could formerly travel from Abuja to London, but not any longer." Foreign airlines have also decreased their inventories. For example, if an aircraft has a capacity of 250 seats, they do not open all of them to travel agents. Either they open half or only 100."
While there were allegations that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, was to blame for the increase in foreign airline ticket prices, the Authority has refuted the claim.
According to recent assumption, the authority charges impede airline operations, as KLM, Lufthansa, Emirates, and others raise tickets by 100 percent.
But, in a quick response, FAAN's Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Faithful Hope-Ivbaze stated that, in response to social media rumors, the authority would want to notify passengers and the general public that it did not raise any of its fees.
"The FAAN prices are statutory, and hence cannot be increased without the awareness of our respected customers and other airport users," she explained.
"While it is true that the cost of aviation fuel has gone astronomically high and has adversely affected airline operators globally, culminating in an increase in ticket costs," says FAAN, "we wish to underline that FAAN has not increased its charges."
Following the event, domestic carriers have expressed concern about the recent restrictions imposed by foreign airlines, stating that they cannot stand by and watch foreign airlines exploit travelers in the country.
"Why do international airlines charge so much?" asks Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines.
The sole difference in one-hour flight fuel use in the aviation sector is maybe differing landing charges in London or Ghana, but the rest is the same.
"I can tell you that if Air Peace flies to London today, Nigerians will fly there for N500,000." Today's price is almost N2 million; why should we pay such a high price when they're converting N450 to $1?
"This explanation is owed to Nigerians." Whatever is going on, this is a wake-up signal that local companies must be supported because they have what it takes to operate abroad.
"The government of the Emirates has provided nearly $5 billion in assistance." When we seek for help, it is not free; we must pay for it. American Airlines has more than $60 billion in equity and a $70 billion debt profile, with all of those debts coming from government assistance.
"If local airlines are supported, we can have capacity that is unrivaled globally." A long-distance flight is the easiest to operate. Short-haul flights are much more difficult because they are stressful for both the aircraft and the cabin crew.
"It's even easier to go to London; aviation is the same all over the world; you're audited by IOSA and IATA, and that's why they stopped us and made us appear bad." They are also aware of our excellent quality and regulatory standards. When crews and captains arrive in Nigeria, they flunk our exams and are returned.
"Captains come from outside, and we demote them to first officer due to a lack of quality." The main problem is that we are being outplayed politically, and I do not believe our embassies have this understanding of aviation politics."
However, Akporiaye remarked that flying across international space is difficult for small carriers.
