TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2015
Communiqué of the Aviation Round Table Q3 2015 Breakfast Meeting
Ownership, Funding & Sustainability of Nigeria Airlines – A perennial challenge
Participants in the breakfast meeting are of the opinion that:
- Nigeria needs two to three national airlines while two must revolve around the existing carriers.
- That the government should not own but may midwife a carrier while ensuring it support, back and protect all flag carriers.
- Government should provide a level playing field for all carriers.
- Government should create an enabling environment for airline industry to thrive.
- Government should stop VAT on airline tickets as is the case in all forms of transportation.
- Government should have a measurable short, medium & long term policy that will advance and guide the sector.
- We must strive to improve the aviation contribution to the GDP through improved and revised policies that will inculcate tourism.
- Government should consider the consolidation of the airlines through regulations.
- Government should set in motion the process of reviewing the bilateral air services agreements in place which is lopsided and detrimental to Nigerian carriers.
- Modalities for having a requisite hanger to reduce maintenance cost of our airlines should be expedited
- Nigerian carriers are advised to improve the customer experience and services which is not encouraging while efforts should be geared at implementing a Fly Nigeria Act in future to support our flag carriers.
JOHN O. OJIKUTU
GROUP CAPTAIN (RTD)
Secretary General ART
