The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said that it is working hard to protect airline operators in order to sustain the aviation industry and make it globally competitive.
The Director, Public Affairs & Consumer Protection of NCAA, Michael Achimugu said this on Monday in a post on microblogging platform, X.
Achimugu said, “Air passengers are the kings of the industry. They are the reason the entire ecosystem is sustainable. They must be protected at all cost.
“Operators (airlines) are the drivers of the industry. They are the reason passengers can travel safely. They must be protected at all cost.
“The movement of goods and equipment is a major reason why governments sustain aviation at great costs. Otherwise, profit margins are thin.
“The regulator, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, is the glue that holds all of this together. The work we do is critical, and protecting all stakeholders is a duty nobody takes lightly.”
He said Nigerian airlines are doing very well despite the harsh operating environment.
Recall that last year, the Convener, Nigeria-South Africa Aviation Forum, Toni Ukachukwu said issues around Nigeria’s foreign exchange shortage and the depreciation of the naira were frustrating airlines.
Ukachukwu said, “As a country, we have FX issues that directly impact on the operators or the aviation industry. There is another aspect which is the jet A-1 fuel.
“The fuel accounts for close to 60 per cent of the operating costs of airlines. You can see where we are with fuel.”