Domestic airline operators in Nigeria, under the aegis of Air Operators of Nigeria (AON) have said the proposed partnership between the Federal Government and Ethiopian Airlines to form a national carrier scheduled to begin operations by December, is not going down well with them.
The airline operators sai the agreement was tantamount to opening the nation’s domestic airline market to a foreign carrier, a development they feel could ‘decimate’ the local airline industry and lead to capital flight.
Spokesperson of AON, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, who is also the Chairman of the United Airlines, who disclosed this in a statement made available to Aviation correspondents, queried the transparency and shareholding structure of the Nigeria Air.
”We have not seen anything Nigerian in this Nigeria Air. It is a camouflage of interest. The decision to set up a national carrier in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines is a policy somersault. The people in government have continued to demonise the local operators.
“Aviation companies have collapsed in other parts of the world, not only in Nigeria. What the aviation sector needs is support. The private sector will collapse with this (national carrier) arrangement. Nigeria will be losing much. It must not be allowed to be sustained. There is nothing Nigerian in this Nigeria Air”, he said.
According to AON, the proposed national airline would help Ethiopian Airlines to achieve its domination of the African market, adding that the Ethiopian national carrier had formed similar agreements in eight other African countries.
”This approach will decimate the local market. Agreement with Ethiopian Airlines will create cabotage. Ethiopian Airlines will come into our domestic market, lower fares (non-competitive fares) with the aim of taking over the market. The choice of Ethiopian Airlines will destroy our industry. We reject this totally.
“In anticipation of the Single African Air Transport Market, Ethiopian Airlines want to dominate the African market. The government is meant to support local carriers. Ethiopian Airlines has partnerships in eight other countries in Africa.
“They currently have 135 planes. The CEO of the airline has said they plan to increase their fleet to 250 planes in the next five years. The intent is to go into the domestic market of all the African countries where they have footprints.
“This is simply aviation colonialism. If we take all of this onboard, you will wonder whether the government has the interest of Nigerian airlines at heart or not.
“With Ethiopian Airlines having 49 per cent stake in the proposed national carrier, it would be difficult for Nigerian Air to fly intercontinental routes.
“We do not think this is the best thing happening. It is not genuine. We reject it. Nigeria Air will not suffer any fate different from what befell the defunct Virgin Nigeria that could not go to the United States. This is clear in the Bilateral Air Services Agreement regulations”, he stated.
Meanwhile, an aviation expert and aeronautical engineer, Babatunde Adeniji, has also faulted the shareholding structure of the carrier.
”I don’t share the sentiment. The arrangement is such that you are using government funds to bring a competitor that will distort the market.
“We need to create a level-playing field. How can we make the industry sustainable? There is a need for transparency in the whole process of setting up a national carrier.
“The local carriers are not being supported. Aviation fuel issues and forex access problems which affect their capacity to maintain aircraft are not addressed.
“Everywhere we talk about the poor performance of Nigerian airlines but we do not support them. We need to support them to grow”, he stated.

By: Corlins Walter