Airline operators in Nigeria have pleaded with the Federal Government to resolve the controversy over the five percent Ticket Sales Charge, TSC.
The appeal was made by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Limited, Dr Allen Onyema, who is also Vice President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON.
Onyema stated that the intervention of the Federal Government could save the Nigerian aviation industry from further financial distress.
He made the appeal at the 30th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents, LAAC, held in Lagos.
According to him, the current system in which airlines remit five percent of the cost of every flight ticket as TSC to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, was putting further financial pressure on already distressed operators.
The Air Peace boss advocated the replacement of the percentage-based charge with a fixed flat-rate fee attached to each ticket, stressing that such an arrangement would make payment more predictable and reduce the financial burden on airlines.
He added that a more amicable tax and charges regime would protect airlines, aviation agencies and passengers, while helping to reduce the high mortality rate of Nigerian carriers.
The AON Vice President reiterated that the airlines were seeking President Tinubu’s intervention because of his willingness to listen and act when presented with the impact of policies on indigenous businesses.
“One thing I must say is that I’m certain any day President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sees us, if they allow us to see him, because I know he will not mind to meet with us, that will be the day a new revolution in the airline industry in this country will occur because Mr. President abhors anything capable of affecting indigenous businesses that provide jobs for the people adversely,” he said.
Airlines beg Nigerian Govt to resolve 5% ticket sales charge row