New Charges Cover Niche Services for Clients-NCAA

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said  that the newly introduced general aviation charges are for non-scheduled commercial operators, and pointed out that the new charges cover for newly introduced niche services for the category of clients.

The Agency also said that the charges replace all previous charges such as the landing and parking fees, the en route navigational charges and the passenger service charge.

Yakubu Dati, coordinating general manager, Corporate Communications for aviation agencies, made the clarification in Lagos and confirmed that Nigerian registered aircraft in this category would pay $3,000 (N480,000),  per flight, while aircraft with foreign registered aircraft would pay $4,000 (N640,000)  per flight.

Dati also explained, “In addition  to the charges they replace, the new charges cover for newly introduced niche services for the category of clients, such as the use of the new General Aviation Terminal (GAT) facilities, including luxury VIP lounges, pilot lounges and crew rest rooms, as well as refreshments.”

He further said the charges are based on the tariffs that are charged by these operators for their services, noting that this segment of the air transport industry “is one of the key focus areas of the Federal Ministry of Aviation in its on-going industry transformation efforts and major investments have been and are still being made to provide appropriate infrastructural facilities for their services.”

This clarification also indicated that the charges are not meant for everybody that has and operates private jets but for those who use it for commercial purposes, including those who use foreign registered and locally registered aircraft.

So those who operate their jets for private business are exempted from these charges, according to the advertorial placed in some major newspapers in the country, as those who operate non-scheduled commercial flights are eligible to pay the charges.

Meanwhile, NCAA has listed 26 airlines as those registered with Airline Operator Certificate (AOC) and these include Aero Contractors Company Nigeria Limited, Allied Air Limited, Arik Air Limited, Associated Aviation Limited and Atlantic Aviation Limited.

Others are Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited, Caverton Helicopters, Chanchangi Airlines Limited, Dana Airlines, Dornier Aviation Nigeria AIEP Limited, First Nation Airways (SS) Limited and Hak Air Limited.

This list also includes IRS Airlines Limited, Jed Air, Kabo Airlines Limited, King Airlines and Travel Limited, Max Air Limited, Med View Airlines Nigeria Limited and Odengene Air Shuttle Services Limited.

There are Overland Airways Limited, Pan African Airlines Nigeria, Skybird Air, Skyjet Aviation Services Limited, Skypower Express Airways Nigeria Limited, Topbrass Aviation Limited and West Link Airways.

Dati also said this explanation became necessary because of the controversy raised by the introduction of the charges as many believed that they are blanked charges on all private jet operations.