Aviation Fuel Racketeering Hindering Airline Operations – AON

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has said there is huge racketeering in the aviation fuel imports to the detriment of the airlines operators in Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja, the chairman of the United Nigeria Airlines and spokesperson for AON, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, said aviation fuel selling above N800/litre is not acceptable as their calculation shows that it should not be selling above N500/litre.

He alleged that people indulge in racketeering the aviation fuel for personal gain rather than the interest of the nation.

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.”

Also speaking to journalists, the president/chief executive officer, Top Brass Aviation, Capt. Roland Iyayi noted that the inadequacy of critical infrastructure impacts more on flight delays more than any other thing.

He said that even check-in counters are not enough, the apron area is not enough and the airports are mostly sunsets thus unavailable for night operations.

“The truth is, have you gone to Abuja Airport during peak hours? Do you have about 10 airlines in one small living room? If you have, for example,  an airline has Owerri, Enugu, Kano, Jos and Maiduguri flight schedules, those destinations should have individual desks, but it’s not so,” Iyayi stated.

Speaking on challenges facing the airlines in Nigeria, the chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said 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.