Aviation
AFARN Tasks Airlines On Code-Sharing System
Stakeholders in the aviation sector under the aegis of
Association of Foreign Airlines Representatives in Nigeria (AFARN) have
stressed the need for code-sharing system to enhance air travel in the country.
The president of the association, Kingsley Nwokoma stated
this at a forum organized recently to bring about sustainable growth in the
nation’s aviation sector.
He opined that government should give adequate support to
airlines and Cargo operator and also stressed the need for the private sector
to come up with code-sharing system for effective service delivery.
Also speaking, the Publicity Secretary of the association,
Herbert Odika reiterated the need for code-sharing system, saying that “one of
the major reasons why the airlines record losses in Nigeria is because they are
not in the culture of code-sharing.”
According to him, foreign airlines such as British Airways,
Alberia, ICLM-Air France, Kenya Airways, Lufthansa all form alliances so that
when they have issues, say technical problems, over booking issues, they take
their passengers to other airlines and sort out the finances later.
“We can blame the government all day long that the carriers
are not doing what they are supposed to do. Yes, we need the support of the
government, but we also expect the private sector to use their initiative to
come up with code-sharing system where all the domestic carriers are able to
come together and look at passenger traffic as per airline.
He added that a lot of airlines in the country were
recording losses as a result of the machines they were using for their
operations.
“The most popular aircraft in use today for the domestic
routes is Boeing 737. B737 is used by five international carriers that come
into Nigeria, like Egypt Air, Rwanda Air and others that do four hours flight.
“It goes to show that one hour or 45 minutes flight is not
economical, and at the end of the day who takes the bill, it goes back to the
passengers. And on top of that we are reporting losses. I would want a
situation where the government will speak with the private sector and look at
the machines they are bringing.
KLM still uses Forkler 27 as a sky hopper from Amsterdam to
the city airport in London. That is the plane that has been well out-dated in
Nigeria so many years ago, but they still use it because they carry only 28-30
passengers,” he said.
As a measure to curb corruption and restore accountability, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), has called on the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to push for the urgent formation and inauguration of governing boards for all other aviation agencies.
ANAP’s Secretary General, AbdulRasaq Saidu, made this call at the weekend when interacting with aviation correspondents, in reaction to recent inauguration of Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Keyamo had recently inaugurated the FAAN board, more than six months after its members were appointed by President Bola Tinubu, where Dr. Umar Ganduje was named Board Chairman, with FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, as the Vice Chairman.
Other board members include representatives from the Ministries of Justice, Defence, Tourism, and Aviation, as well as professionals from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, and FAAN’s legal department.
The ANAP scribe there urged the aviation Minister not to stop at FAAN but to ensure that all aviation parastatals are given functional boards to restore order and credibility to the sector.
He, however, commended Keyamo for recently inaugurating the board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria but stressed that more needed to be done.
Saidu also warned that the continued delay in constituting boards for other aviation agencies creates room for unchecked abuses, including illegal contracts, fraudulent employment practices, and mismanagement.
“The absence of governing boards violates the enabling Acts that established these agencies. Only properly constituted boards can enforce discipline, ensure due process in decision-making, and provide oversight to prevent corruption”, Saidu said.
He emphasised that the aviation unions, including ANAP, have consistently raised concerns about poor governance and lack of transparency within the aviation system.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to act swiftly by appointing board members for all relevant agencies, in the interest of fairness and aviation safety.
Saidu also tackled the former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, for failing to inaugurate any boards during his eight-year tenure, despite appointments being made by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“ANAP raised the alarm several times under Sirika’s leadership, but nothing changed. That lapse has continued under the current administration, and it must be addressed now”, Saidu stated.
By: Corlins Walter
