In an interesting twist of events, airline operators in Nigeria are threatening to move their operations to Ghana over the imposition of new tariffs by the country’s aviation regulatory body the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The airline operators want to locate to Ghana in a bid to stay in business.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has imposed a new fee of $4, 000 on foreign registered and $300, 000 on Nigerian carriers per trip.

The move has angered airline operators in the country who say the latest development is not in tandem with global practice.

Weeks after some local airline operators in Ghana threatened to pull out of the country over unfavorable conditions in the aviation sector, their counterparts elsewhere in Nigeria are threatening to do same and in this case locate to Ghana.

In the case of Ghana’s airline operators, the high cost of aviation fuel as well as a growing list of local operators being given the nod to operate among others was reason for their threats to pull out.

For their Nigerian counterparts however, the imposition of a new tariff by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority of $4, 000 and $300, 000 for foreign registered and Nigerian carrier per trip is the reason for the threat.

The latest imposition means airline operators will be charged that amount for every take off they make.

The new fee will also affect private jet owners who engage in unscheduled (charter) operations.

Aside this fresh charge, the operators are also to pay navigational, landing and parking charges, passenger service charge and 5 per cent of the total revenue made if the flight is chartered.

Industry players in Nigeria say the development will see airline operators move their operations to Ghana where the charges are not only moderate but reasonable.

Two local airlines from Ghana, Starbow and Africa World Airlines were recently given the nod by Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority to operate in the country another local airline Antrak is also expected to be given the nod soon.

Starbow is yet to announce when it will begin plying that route will Africa world airline is expected to commence in October.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has filed a suit in the Federal High Court, Lagos challenging the reluctance of foreign and Nigerian registered airlines to pay some stipulated fees for their operation.

Let them move to Ghana. When they charge them there or their profits reduce due to low patronage, they can then move to Liberia, Sierra Leone or Togo. Worthless idio.ts.

We spent millions and billions of Naira, took some foreign loans and did so many things just to get our Airports fixed and looking nice.
Now we wanna recover the money lost by imposing tariffs and you threaten to leave?
Bwahahahahaha abeg leave if you are too broke to pay.
Poor airlines parading everywhere and forming tusssssh, did they think it was easy or cheap upgrading our airports?

Good for them.

The new charges are only for Private Jets. And I honestly think the charges are on the high side. The Govt would do well to review it download

Bad news!

I think they should restrict these new charges to only Private Jets because theirs is a luxury service and they can afford to pay to keep enjoying that service no matter what. I think Commercial Airlines should be exempted since they are offering an essential service. That said, I think it is irresponsible for the operators to threaten to relocate to Ghana. If they can't find a more diplomatic way of resolving this, they should just relocate quietly, instead of making a show of it. They must also bear in mind that they will be loosing at least 70 percent of their current business by doing so.

Empty threats

Ha ha ha ha, any company threatening to leave Nigeria to ghana is contemplating economic suicide. The price of fuel in ghana has been increased 4 times this year and just increased a week ago. The exchange rate is something else. At 200 and something naira exchange rate to a dolar .

A population of 20m which less than 30% use the plane except for going overseas.

They are jst making noise. Make them move.

what I read on punch newspaper applies to only private jet owners not commercial airlines. the move is in the right direction the rich should be tax for the services they receive if they want to live luxurious life.

Rossikk: Let them move to Ghana. When they charge them there or their profits reduce due to low patronage, they can then move to Liberia, Sierra Leone or Togo. Worthless idio.ts.

Shut up .. I am sure U work in a govt parastatal where U expect Egunje from hard working business men ..

I hope the government will regulate their charges too, cause na people like us go suffer am if they increase their charges.

Rossikk: Let them move to Ghana. When they charge them there or their profits reduce due to low patronage, they can then move to Liberia, Sierra Leone or Togo. Worthless idio.ts.

Lmao

Suicide mission

Moving to Ghana is just plain joke, they're already charging almost twice their counterparts in foreign countries for the same trip distance.

taharqa:

The new charges are only for Private Jets. And I honestly think the charges are on the high side. The Govt would do well to review it download

its for all airlines INCLUDING private jets

dey cant o jare not wen dey r making billions of naira

If it only applies to private jet owners, well xxxx

However, some people's comments here show blind loyalty to govt. You say the airlines should relocate if they aint satisfied. Whereas, all the airlines need to do is pass the bill to the Nigerian passengers. We bear the brunt!

Aviation in Nigeria is a big joke. There is no clear policy and those in charge have no clue on how to move the industry forward.

The Cost of doing business in Nigeria is prohibitive. That is why Nigerians pay some of the highest fares in the world. The ignorant are quick to blame the foreign airlines of racism and exploitation , but the blame lies with ridiculous policies like these. I am amazed by most of the daft comments made on this thread; guess who is going to pay for these fees? The passengers/ public, you dullards!
Nigeria has an aviation industry that is still in the infant stage, what is needed are policies that will boost the industry. How is this policy going to help our struggling airlines?

The "private jets" as the laymen call them are a source of income to the federal government. Majority of these jet are "business jets" owned by corporations and operated under strict budgets. It is not easy to own and operate these jets. Nigeria has the second fastest growing business aviation sector in the world. Instead of the government to encourage development, they consistently introduce new policies that make it harder and more expensive to operate. There has been a remarkable slow down in development in the business jet sector under the current minister. I score her 1/10 with regards to the business aviation sector. She was the laughing stock of the gallery at a recent interaction business aviation event. Majority of her policies are targeted at her political enemies.

ghana wey thier aiports dey empty like grave yards! Them go jones tire if they go there! Sha make them go so i go see space invest in d busines!

Abeg we no want o!

Is Ghana willing to accept you?

hmmmm

And who is stopping them? Abeg the authorities should not allow anyone of them come back under whatever name if they go

greateros: ghana wey thier aiports dey empty like grave yards! Them go jones tire if they go there! Sha make them go so i go see space invest in d busines!

Let them go now,the whole population of Ghana is not up to two BIG CITIES in Naija (i mean Lagos and Ibadan).

Let them move to ghana. I will only need them when am going to obodo oyibo.

Abeg make dem go, cause I still remembered dana

May them go,ko kan aiye,London by road on my mind.

If the increase in charges will lead to meaningful development then no problem

FlyinNaija: Aviation in Nigeria is a big joke. There is no clear policy and those in charge have no clue on how to move the industry forward.

The Cost of doing business in Nigeria is prohibitive. That is why Nigerians pay some of the highest fares in the world. The ignorant are quick to blame the foreign airlines of racism and exploitation , but the blame lies with ridiculous policies like these. I am amazed by most of the daft comments made on this thread; guess who is going to pay for these fees? The passengers/ public, you dullards!
Nigeria has an aviation industry that is still in the infant stage, what is needed are policies that will boost the industry. How is this policy going to help our struggling airlines?

The "private jets" as the laymen call them are a source of income to the federal government. Majority of these jet are "business jets" owned by corporations and operated under strict budgets. It is not easy to own and operate these jets. Nigeria has the second fastest growing business aviation sector in the world. Instead of the government to encourage development, they consistently introduce new policies that make it harder and more expensive to operate. There has been a remarkable slow down in development in the business jet sector under the current minister. I score her 1/10 with regards to the business aviation sector. She was the laughing stock of the gallery at a recent interaction business aviation event. Majority of her policies are targeted at her political enemies.

with all due respect,
u re right abt sum stuf bt i tink u nid 2 get ur facts ryt, NCAA is only tryin 2 protect us so dat only gud n competent airlines wil operate... Its jst lyk d rebrandin of banks