Group wants 70% Hajj operations for domestic airlines
President of Aviation Round Table, ART, Elder Gbenga Olowo has frowned at negative trade balance against Nigeria, saying that an upwards of 70% of hajj business should go to known Nigeria Airlines such as Medview, Air Peace , Azman, First Nation, Dana, Aero, Overland amongst others.
Olowo who noted that annual Hajj operations remain a very huge market segment in Nigerian Aviation warned that the opportunity must not elude local operators.
He further explained that such incentives must be given to local airlines in order to improve their bottomline, grow aviation contribution to GDP, strengthen the Naira and address the negative balance of trade against Nigeria.
President of the leading professional aviation group, therefore expressed its displeasure over the negative trade balance meted on Nigeria, following indications that 45% market allocation has been given to Saudi airlines.
Drawing the attention of government, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA and National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) to the persistent negative trade balance against Nigeria, ART vowed that such maltreatment must be discontinued.
The ART leader further said that, while utilisation of Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) for scheduled operations and multiple entry points continue to erode domestic market partly because of our weak airlines, and their capacity constraints, Hajj, a non-scheduled business opportunity should go more to our airlines who is always there for the country rather than fly by night untested charter operators.
ART in an official statement issued yesterday, further stated that Kaduna State 2016 operation that went to indigenous Nigerian operator was quite commendable, urging that other states and NAHCON will follow the good example in 2017.
Olowo said that it is on record that the Kaduna experience was the only hitch free and smooth Hajj operation in 2016, advising others to emulate such example.
Following reports that there were 45% market allocation to Saudi airline recently, NAHCON has earlier stated that there was no preferential treatment to Flynas airline as a Royal Decree was given for Saudi carriers the right to airlift 50% hajj traffic.
