With the entrance of more airlines into the domestic market, the regulators need to protect the air travellers by closely monitoring these airlines to avoid mishaps in the sector.
No doubt, the upsurge of domestic airlines in the aviation industry in recent times is a welcome development in the industry and may stimulate the growth of the sector. But this Newspaper is of the view that much still needs to be done by the government to ensure the survival of these domestic airlines and guarantee a hitch- free flight. While it is true that with more domestic airlines, airfares may crash and passengers would benefit as some airports, which were not covered, would join the nation –wide link, yet government needs to provide the enabling environment for these airlines to survive.
There is no gain saying the fact that most of these airlines are still struggling considering the fact that the airline business is capital intensive coupled with the high cost of aviation fuel. Indeed, aviation industry experts have attributed the major problem of the domestic carriers to the generosity of the federal government to give out frequencies to foreign carriers. The thinking in the aviation sector is that going by the bilateral air service agreement, including the Yamoussoukro Decision by African Countries whose objective is to liberalise air service in Africa, and other agreements endorsed by West-African states, Nigerian airlines should have easy passage to some of these countries in Africa. Sadly this is not the situation as Nigerian airlines are denied entry into some of these countries. Certainly, we believe the government needs to have a second look at the situation and respond appropriately.
The government should insist that whatever frequency is extended to foreign airlines in Nigeria by the federal government, their various countries should also respond appropriately. We are of the opinion that the Nigerian airlines would survive if the government takes this bold stand concerning frequency slot for foreign airlines. As a matter of fact, industry experts assert that many troubled foreign airlines which operated in the country some years back have resuscitated and become healthy as a result of the generosity of the government in the distribution of frequency slots to the foreign airlines.
Besides, government needs to review its charges and charge the foreign airlines the same as Nigerian airlines are charged in their countries of origin. While the parking and landing fees are free for the airlines of some of these countries in their domain, Nigerian airlines are heavily charged and made to pay on cash and carry basis by the foreign countries.
And then there is the problem of inadequate infrastructure. No doubt, there is need for maintenance, repair and overhaul of the facilities in the country. It is very unfortunate that while the number of local airlines is on the increase, the airport facility infrastructure is not being expanded. This has led to congestion of the terminals of the Lagos airport, Murtala Muhammed Airport Domestic terminal 1(GAT) and Terminal2 (MMA2). Indeed, these terminal facilities need to be expanded to accommodate the increase in service. Equally worthy of note is the airfield lighting, which should be provided in all the country’s airports so that flights could land safely at any of the airports in the night.
But much more fundamental to the survival of the country’s domestic carriers is the operators’ need to improve on their services. Presently, passengers complain of delays and cancellation of flights from some of the domestic airlines. With the entrance of more airlines into the domestic market, the regulators need to protect the air travellers by closely monitoring these airlines to avoid mishaps in the sector.
