Airlines cut fares by 25%, to meet NCAA over charges

[TGD]

 THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has made good its promise to reduce air fares.

IRS Airline said yesterday that air fares were being  cut because of the reduction of Passenger Service Charge (PSC) and the effort of a committee set up by the Federal Government to look into the high cost of aviation fuel.

The chairman of IRS Ailines, Alhaji Isyaku Rabiu, told The Guardian that his airline took the decision in order to support the government's effort to reduce the high cost of air travel, occasioned by the high cost of aviation fuel, otherwise known as JET A1.

He said they were more concerned with easing the sufferings of the travelling public who, he said, could no longer travel by air.

Rabiu who declined to disclose how much cut his airline has effected, however, noted that the cut was a reasonable one that would be attractive to travellers.

In the same vein, Chanchangi Airlines has reduced fares to N25,000, a  departure from the N30,000 charged by many airlines for an hour journey.

Most times, air fares hover between N28,000 and  N32,000 depending on the time of purchase of ticket.

Chanchangi made a return to the aviation industry after months of suspension of operations.

Airline operators under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) recently gave conditions for the reduction of air fares.

The operators had demanded among other things, the regular supply and reduction in the price of aviation fuel, otherwise known as JET A1 and the removal of value added tax (VAT).

The operator noted that the VAT was not applicable to other modes of transportation in Nigeria, just as they equally canvassed the removal of rent payable at the airports.

When contacted, the Assistant Secretary General of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Alhaji Mohammed Tukur confirmed the development. He commended IRS for taking the initiative.

He called on the NCAA Director General, Dr. Harold Demuren to take full responsibility for the arbitrary increase in air fares, adding that it was his duty to regulate the astronomical increase in air fares.

He disclosed that the AON would soon meet with the NCAA to compare the charges, adding that it was from these charges that the terminals were maintained, advising that "the minister must not allow herself to be misled."



The Guardian