Arik Air joins NCAA’s payment automation platform

NIGERIAN carrier, Arik Air, has joined the automation platform of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in the payment of its five per cent ticket and cargo Sales Charge to the agency.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the automation agreement was signed on Thursday by the Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman and Arik Air’s Managing Director, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, in Lagos.

Based on the agreement, the five per cent ticket and cargo sales charge would be deducted at source in line with the provision of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).

Usman lauded Arik Air for complying fully with the regulation which was introduced to ensure transparency in revenue collection and urged other airlines to key into the platform.

He said the charges were shared by NCAA and other aviation agencies such as the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Accident Investigation Bureau.

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He said: “Coming on the platform means transparency, more efficiency, less time spent on reconciliation.

“We want to use this opportunity to encourage others that are not fully in compliant to do, we do not like to force people to come and do so.”

According to him, the NCAA depends solely on the five per cent charges as its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and does not take money from the Federal Government to carry out its operations.

Usman explained that all the airlines were expected to pay the charges, adding that no airline had been granted a special waiver.

Responding, IIegbodu noted that the move was a step in the right direction in the management’s quest to reposition Arik Air, adding that the airline would continue to support the growth of aviation in Nigeria.

NAN reports that airlines already on the NCAA’s automation platform include Medview, Overland, Aero and Dana Air.