Key players make case for small fleet operators

Some key players in the aviation sector have argued that the only way the airports springing up across the country can enjoy more aircraft operating in and out of them is if the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regulations can allow operators with small fleet size to break into the market.

Speaking on this, the director at Zenith Travels, Mr Olumide Ohunayo revealed how the stringent conditions by the NCAA which include: size of fleet and age of aircraft, have kept prospective small operators out of the market.

His words: “Most of these smaller aircraft for this kind of operations do not come as brand new anymore. They are being refit, maintained and modernised enough to operate.

“For instance, as Australia was bringing in narrow jets for their local flights, they are blending it with the Fokker 100, 70 aircraft. These are small old aircraft used to feed locations within the country that have low passenger traffic”.

At the different fora, many key players had lamented how shortage of aircraft had been contributing to challenges of flight delays and cancellations which subsequently lead to disruption of flights.

It has been observed that the reduction in the aircraft size amongst the domestic airlines has made it impossible for the operators to fulfill the yearnings of Nigerian travellers, particularly during festive seasons as witnessed in the last Yuletide.

Amidst this shortfall, the operators are faced with their inability to meet the high capacity of passenger’s traffic hence, the regular record of passengers getting stranded across the airport.

To tackle the lacuna brought about by the shortage of aircraft, Aviation Round Table, a non-governmental body made up of professional members had in the past approached the NCAA to review PART 9: Air Operator Certification and Administration bordering on the Issuance of Denial of Air Operator Certificate (AOC), whereby another layer of scheduled operator licensing be urgently initiated for operators whose total fleet seat in a whole should not be more than 100.

According to ART; “We believe this approach will encourage and stimulate the growth of new entrant low-cost carriers who will be granted fees exemptions and tax holidays for a five-year period”.

READ ALSO: Zela Aviation facilitates four aircraft lease for Air Peace